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What Is A Plumbing Vent & How Do They Work?

Wondering what part a plumbing vent plays in your house? Equip yourself with the knowledge of plumbing vents to better detect problems with your plumbing system.

Plumbing systems are vital for any home, guiding wastewater and sewage into the sewer systems. It’s essential to understand how they function to keep everything running smoothly.

You may not be aware that drainage systems comprise only half of plumbing systems. Plumbing vents are the often-overlooked half. While drainage systems keep unpleasant waste out of your house, plumbing vents do the same for sewer gases.

Plumbing Vent

Plumbing vent pipes play a crucial role in your system. Understanding how they work can help you spot and deal with potential issues before they escalate into major headaches.

What Is A Plumbing Vent

Roof Showing Pipe Top

Plumbing vents are essential for keeping your drainage pipes running efficiently. These vertical pipes stick out from your roof, guiding sewer gases to the septic tank while letting fresh air enter the pipes. This balance keeps the air pressure just right, regulating the flow of sewage without external help.

A vent stack’s other job is to eliminate nasty sewage smells, preventing them from seeping into your home. After all, no one wants their living room smelling like a sewer!

Vent stacks work with the drainage system, as one cannot function without the other. A well-functioning plumbing vent improves the water flow through your drain pipes.

Common Problems With Plumbing Vents

There are a few telltale signs of a faulty plumbing vent pipe. Some of these are discussed in our other articles. Here are the key ones:

Chrome Plumbing Vent Roof

1. Slow drainage

If the water stops draining from your sinks or you notice a slow-flowing drain, it could be due to a clogged drainage pipe or a blocked plumbing air vent.

2. Unusual Sounds In Your Drains

If your plumbing vent pipe is blocked, you may hear gurgling sounds in your drains. This happens because the drainage system lacks proper airflow.

3. Foul Odour From Your Drains

If sewer gases can’t be expelled from your home, you may detect a foul odour from your drains. This may be due to a clogged plumbing vent pipe. The resulting low pressure dries the P trap mechanisms, which keepthe gases from entering your home.

4. Reduced Water Pressure In Faucets

If water flows slowly out of your faucets, it may be due to a fault in your home’s plumbing system or the plumbing vent.

Solving Problems With A Plumbing Vent Stack

If you suspect your waste pipes are clogged, check the drain line first. Clogged drain pipes are relatively easy to fix using a plunger or pouring baking soda and vinegar.

How To Clear A Clogged Plumbing Vent

Hand Holding Trap Pipes

If your plumbing vent is clogged, you might try fixing it yourself. But, if it’s hard to reach, don’t hesitate to ring a professional. Here’s how you can clear a clogged plumbing vent on your own.

Step 1:

Reach your plumbing vent pipe. You should be able to find it on your roof.

Step 2:

See if you can locate the blockage within the plumbing fixture. If you can reach the blocked area, move to the next step. If not, you may have to call a professional for help.

Step 3:

Direct the tube of a plumber’s snake through the vent and attempt to move the blockage. If necessary, pour water through the vent.

Step 4:

Check if the vent blockage has cleared or not. Cover the vent with a hand and ask someone to flush the toilet. If you feel the air being sucked in, the clog has cleared. If not, you may repeat the steps a few more times.

These steps should have cleared the blockage in your plumbing vent pipe, ensuring your drain system functions optimally. If the issue is a severely blocked vent pipe, you should call for professional help immediately. The longer you wait to act, the more severe the blockage. Allowing gases to build up can lead to leaks or burst pipes, which you should avoid entirely.

The Big Blue Plumbing team can assist you in Noosa, Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay areas. We can help fix plumbing pipes and vents quickly and affordably. You can reach us anytime, so don’t hesitate to call our plumbers today!

Types Of Plumbing Vents

Plumbing vent pipes play a crucial role in a plumbing system by allowing gases and odours to escape and ensuring the system functions properly. There are five main types of plumbing vents, each designed for specific purposes and locations.

Double Plumbing Vent Roof

  1. True Vent: These are the most common type of vent pipes and are typically located on the roof of a house. They are vertical pipe fixtures that remain untouched by water and allow gases to escape into the atmosphere.
  2. Common Vent: Common vents are located where a wall separates two plumbing fixtures. They are connected to the vent pipes with a sanitary cross, allowing for proper fixture ventilation.
  3. Re-vent Pipe: Auxiliary vent pipes are vent stacks that run up and over to the main vent. These pipes are typically located behind plumbing fixtures or the horizontal drain line and are used to ensure proper ventilation.
  4. Loop Vent: Also known as a Chicago Loop, loop vents connect to the P traps underneath a sink. The pipes form a loop inside the sink cabinet from the P trap and connect to the plumbing vent system, which helps prevent sewer gases from escaping.
  5. Air Admittance Valve: These valves allow air back into the system after waste drains. Air Admittance Valves (AAV) use gravity to prevent sewer gases from escaping and connecting to multiple fixtures, ensuring proper ventilation and controlling odours.

Getting to Know Your Plumbing Air Vents & Drain Pipes

A plumbing vent pipe plays a vital role in ensuring water and sewage flow out of your home smoothly and into the sewer system. By keeping the airflow steady, it helps your drainage system work without a hitch.

Knowing how a plumbing air vent works makes solving any plumbing problems more straightforward.

We hope you have learned much about plumbing, air vents, and drainage pipes. Always call a professional for help if you need it!

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