Step 3 · Open the Cleanout Plug

This is the step most people slow down on. Take it one move at a time — there’s no rush, and you can rewind the clip as many times as you need.

Position yourself uphill or to the side of the cleanout opening, never directly in front of or below it. Place a large bucket directly under the cleanout opening to catch initial backflow. Using a large pipe wrench, fit it securely onto the square nut on the cleanout plug. Apply steady pressure to turn the plug counter-clockwise. It may be very tight. Once the plug begins to loosen, unscrew it the rest of the way slowly by hand. Be prepared for wastewater to gush out. If it does, pause and let the pressure release and the backup drain into your bucket(s) before fully removing the plug. This step is critical and can be very messy.