Then he saw it: The Cleanout.
He went back to the article. Step 2: Use a sewer auger (aka a snake). Rent a heavy-duty one. Not the little hand-crank for sinks. You need a 50–100 foot machine with a cutting head. how to unclog main sewer line
Next: The hot water trick. Boil gallons. Pour down. Hope. He’d tried that on a sink once. It just made the backup warm. He moved on. Then he saw it: The Cleanout
The pipe below was dark. He aimed the flashlight. Not full to the brim, but close. Murky water sat six inches down, reflecting his own worried face. The clog was somewhere between here and the street. Rent a heavy-duty one
“Don’t flush anything,” Leo said. The mantra of every homeowner who has ever faced the abyss.
He sat back on his heels. The smell was worse now—the disturbance had released gases. He reread the article. Pro tip: If the snake comes back clean and the water still isn’t draining, the clog is not in the first 25 feet. You need the big machine. Or call a pro.
He found a wrench. The cap was tight—corroded by time. He grunted, braced his feet, and twisted. It gave with a wet, reluctant sigh. He lifted it off.