Placing Cleanout Risers
Cleanout risers provide above-grade access to buried drain pipes for inspection, maintenance, and rodding. Place them on pipe segments to document access points on the drainage plan.
Cleanout RiserThe Cleanout object marks a rodding access point on a drainage network. Place it on or near a drain pipe where maintenance access is required, then set its Access Type (Screw Cap, Threaded Plug, Hinged Lid, or Custom) and add any installation Notes in the Inspector. The Cleanout lives in the Water tab under Access & Maintenance.
Activate the Cleanout Riser tool
In Drainage mode, select the Cleanout Riser tool from the toolbar or component palette. The cursor changes to a placement crosshair. Move the cursor over the canvas near the pipe segment where you want to place the cleanout.
Click near a pipe to place and snap
Click on the canvas close to the target pipe segment. The cleanout riser snaps to the nearest point on the nearest pipe and places itself centered on the pipe line. It appears as a small cap or circle symbol on the 2D plan. If the placement snaps to the wrong pipe, press Escape and click closer to the intended pipe.
Configure diameter and burial depth
Select the placed cleanout riser to open the Inspector. Set the diameter in millimeters — the cleanout diameter should match the pipe it serves, or one size larger to allow rodding equipment to pass through. In the Burial Settings section, the default mode is Buried. Set depthMm so the cap level matches finished grade or slightly above it.
Set the access type
Select the placed cleanout to open its Cleanout Riser section in the Inspector. Set the Access Type to Screw Cap, Threaded Plug, Hinged Lid, or Custom to match the cover detail, and add any installation Notes.
Name the cleanout
In the General section, give the cleanout a descriptive Name such as 'CO — bend, rear run' so it reads clearly on the plan and in exports.
Repeat at every required access point
Add a cleanout at every significant change of direction, at junctions where two or more runs meet, and at intervals along long straight runs. Reposition any cleanout later with the Select tool.
Mark a cleanout at every change of direction of 45° or more, at each junction where two runs meet, and at the upstream start of any long run. These are the most likely blockage points and the hardest to clear without direct access.
The Water tab is a schematic documentation tool. Cleanout objects record maintenance access for the installer; they do not drive any drainage analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a dedicated cleanout riser object?
Yes. The Cleanout object is in the Water tab under Access & Maintenance. Place it near the drain pipe where access is needed and set its access type and notes in the Inspector.
What access types are available?
Screw Cap, Threaded Plug, Hinged Lid, and Custom. Choose the cover detail that matches the installation.
Where should I place cleanouts?
At significant changes of direction, at junctions where runs meet, and at the upstream start of long straight runs — the points where blockages are most likely and hardest to reach.
Will cleanouts appear on exported PDFs?
Yes. Placed water objects appear on the layer you draw them on and are included in PDF and printed plan exports. Name each one clearly so its location is unambiguous.