A Guide To Plumbing Vents
Many people do not understand the importance of plumbing vents, and therefore, do not know how to take care of them when they are broken. We at Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric share with you the low-down on everything you need to know about these unsung heroes of your plumbing system.
What Are Plumbing Vents?
Perhaps you have seen a white pipe on your roof and wondered to yourself “what the heck is that?” Well, it’s most likely a plumbing vent. Inside your home there are pipes that link all of your plumbing fixtures, like a toilet or sink, where water or sewage drains. Often gases get caught in these pipes and need to be expelled. The purpose of a plumbing vent is to help regulate the air pressure in your plumbing system, just as the pipes drain the water, the vent is there to help get rid of any of the gases that have built-up in your plumbing system.
Is It Important To Have This System?
Yes, it is. As we have mentioned, it’s really important to have gases deposited outside of your home. The reason for this is that they are dangerous if inhaled. Additionally, these vents help to bring oxygen in to the plumbing system which helps the breaking down of waste products more quickly and efficiently.
How Do They Work?
The whole premise behind how plumbing vents work is that your plumbing requires neutral air pressure or else the waste will not move through the pipe. If the air pressure is very poor, then you might find that sewer gas may circulate back into your home and you may have a foul odor in the house. However, if you have a good neutral air pressure in the plumbing system you’ll find that the pipes create a vacuum which pulls gas and waste through the system more quickly. This is obviously an abridged version of how plumbing vents work, and if you would like more information you can ask one of our professional plumbers the next time you call.
How Do I Get Them Installed?
As part of the new regulations in compliance with building codes, you are required to have a plumbing vent and a trap for every fixture in the home that requires plumbing, for example, toilets, bathtubs or sinks. If one is not installed correctly, you may find that there is poor ventilation in the house and a backtracking of sewer gases into the home. This can put yourself and your family’s life at risk. Therefore, it is important to hire a professional plumber from Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric to install your vents to ensure code regulations are met and to keep your health safe.
I Think My Plumbing Vent Might Be Broken – What Now?
If any of your plumbing fixtures have a particularly foul odor coming from them, regardless of being cleaned, you might have a problem with your plumbing vents. Additionally, any drain that makes a gurgling, bubbling or sucking noise could be an indication of inadequate air pressure. In the system, all vents are linked to a main vent stack which is found on the roof. Because it is on roof, it is subject to weather conditions and outside environmental factors and can sometimes become clogged. If you think that any of your appliances may be exhibiting the symptoms of a blockage, it is imperative to hire a professional to fix it for you. DIY methods could cause more damage to the system since it is a very complicated and difficult to understand, and hiring a professional do the job for you is a better idea.
With this in mind, if you would like to have an inspection of your plumbing system to ensure that it is working properly, let one of our plumbing experts at Art Plumbing AC & Electric aid you, give us a call at 1-800-475-1504 today!
