I have two main drain cleanouts on my house. The one closest to the street is a T style of some sort where it looks like water flows under and maybe an air trap is over a center section. I keep getting clogs at this section and wondering if I need to dig it up and replace it. I'm trying to find a diagram or picture or the name of that style of cleanout/fitting but no luck so far. I was told by a friend that a plumber who cleaned his drain called it a "bridge" and that it is no longer used as it clogs easily. The house was built in the 80s and it's located in Southern California. Anybody know what I'm talking about?

You do not give us any kind of description, so we cannot tell you. The two cleanouts COULD be a whole house trap, or they could just be the normal 2 way cleanout setup.

Perhaps, if you provided us with a digital video of your sewer line from the house to the street and post it here, will help all of us to help you.

Best Wishes

1 is Building Sewer and 1 is Sub Soil Drain. If your stuff is backing up, it is your Building Sewer line. I think 80s is to early to have a Back Water Valve installed.

I think you are talking about a 2 way cleanout. You need to enter from the top and snake one way then go through and snake the other way. One goes to the sewer in the street, the other goes to your main line in the house. If snaking to the house be careful that you don't go too far or you could come up in a toilet or main vent. Here is a picture of the 2 way fitting with the cleanout on top.

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I was able to find a pic or two from plumbing repair companies. The clog happens right at the center dividing the two way on the house side. I believe gunk, rust, buildup has just made the opening below the center divider too small for normal flow. So far, plumbers only suggest replacing with a different style of cleanout. I am going to see if I can rig some sort of tool to try to clean the scale, buildup etc off the center piece of metal to get the passageway opened up a bit more.

Not sure if this link will work but here's a pic from the top into the cleanout from on-line. Not my drain.

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