CLEANOUT TEE WITH PLUG,H×H×FPT

Introduction to ABS Cleanout Tee with Plug

An ABS Cleanout Tee with Plug is an essential plumbing fitting designed to provide permanent, easy access to a drain line for inspection, maintenance, and clearing blockages. It is a specialized type of tee (T-shaped) fitting that incorporates a threaded opening with a removable plug.

ABS: Stands for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. It's a durable, black plastic known for its strength, impact resistance, and corrosion resistance. It's widely used for drain, waste, and vent (DWV) plumbing systems.

Cleanout Tee: The "Tee" refers to its shape, which allows a branch line to connect to a main line. The "Cleanout" designation means one of these branches is designed specifically for access.

Plug: This is the removable cap that screws into the cleanout opening, creating a watertight seal when not in use.

Essentially, it's a built-in access point for your plumbing system.

Key Components & Design

Tee Body: The main T-shaped ABS fitting. It has three openings:

Inlet: Where waste enters from a fixture (e.g., from a sink drain).

Outlet: Where waste continues down the main drain line.

Cleanout Opening: A threaded branch, typically at a 90-degree angle, where the plug is installed.

Threaded Cleanout Opening: This is a female-threaded port, meaning the threads are on the inside. It is designed to match the threads of the plug.

Removable Plug: A threaded cap, also made of ABS, that screws into the cleanout opening. It often has a square-shaped head (for a wrench) or a hexagonal head.

Primary Function and How It Works

The sole purpose of a cleanout tee is to provide access.

When a clog occurs downstream from the cleanout, a plumber or homeowner can simply unscrew the plug.

Once the plug is removed, a drain auger (or "snake") or a hydro-jetting hose can be fed directly into the pipe to break up or retrieve the obstruction.

Without a cleanout, accessing a deep clog might require disassembling pipes from a sink or toilet, which is a much more difficult and messy job.

Key Features and Benefits

Easy Maintenance: Drastically simplifies the process of clearing drain blockages, saving time and money on plumbing services.

Preventive Measure: Acts as a strategic inspection point. A small camera can be fed through the opening to inspect the condition of the pipes.

Durable and Corrosion-Resistant: Unlike metal alternatives, ABS plastic will not rust, corrode, or degrade from household chemicals or sewage gases.

Cost-Effective: It is an inexpensive fitting that can prevent very expensive emergency plumbing repairs down the line.

Smooth Interior Wall: Minimizes flow resistance and reduces the chance of debris snagging, which helps prevent future clogs.

Common Applications

Cleanout tees are required by plumbing code at specific intervals and locations. They are commonly found in:

Main Horizontal Drain Lines: Installed at the base of soil stacks (main vertical waste pipes) and at every 50-100 feet of horizontal piping.

At the Base of Stacks: Where a vertical waste stack meets the horizontal main drain.

Before and After Long Runs: Placed at the beginning and end of a long horizontal pipe run.

At Every Change of Direction: Installed where a drain pipe makes a sharp 90-degree turn, as these are common spots for clogs to form.

Residential and Commercial Buildings: Used in homes, apartments, office buildings, and industrial sites.

Installation Considerations

Accessibility is Key: The most important rule for installing a cleanout tee is to ensure the plug is easily accessible. It should not be buried in a wall or floor. It is often installed in a utility room, basement, crawlspace, or with an access panel.

Direction of Access: The cleanout opening must face in a direction that allows a snake to be fed into the pipe. This is typically facing the direction of the potential clog, which is usually downstream.

Proper Solvent Welding: Like all ABS DWV systems, the tee is installed using ABS solvent cement, which chemically fuses the pipes and fittings together to create a permanent, leak-proof seal. The plug is the only part that is ever threaded or removed.