Cleanout in yard

[Willi49]

I recently had a sprinkler repair and we found two cleanouts that were just under the grass and soil. They had some kind of top on them that was worn and you could just lift off. There is no threading on the pipe. The sprinkler guy recommended getting an adapter and a plug with threads. The pipe is 3". I looked at the big box stores and could only find a 3" or 4" adapter and plug. The 3" is the same size as the pipe so it won't fit over and the 4" is too big. I have just left the 4" on there for now, but I am not sure how this is supposed to work. Is it supposed to fit tight and are you supposed to seal it? As it is now it is covered, but if the yard becomes overly saturated from rain, will water seap up and go back down the cleanout?

 

[Mitchell-DIY-Guy]

There is Schedule 30 and Schedule 40 PVC pipe in the 3" size. Naturally they have different sizes and the parts are not interchangable.

3" PVC pipe in either Sched 30 or 40 has the same 3" Inside Diameter. (ID). The wall thickness is what differs.

Schedule 30 is thinwall (walls are .125") with an OD of 3.25". Schedule 40 is heavier, with an OD of 3.5", pipe walls .25". Very carefully measure the OD of the pipe and you can determine what pipe you have, and thus what fittings to buy (or to convert to). You can find adapters and sleeves to fit one to the other...I have found them at the big box stores. The main DWV horizontal runs in my home (very long) were Schedule 30. The shorter vertical runs were Schedule 40. Don't ask me why, but I suspect the plumber was saving a few $$$.

 

[Willi49]

Thank you for your response. I will check that out.