Sewer Gas Vent Pipe

The vent pipes remove or exhaust sewer gases and allow air to enter the system so that the wastewater flows freely.

Sewer gas vent pipe. The drainpipes are made of cast iron galvanized pipe copper or plastic. It helps with the pressure of your plumbing system but if your drain trap is blocked and your home isn t properly vented it could cause unsafe conditions. This can happen in old homes where a cast iron vent pipe gets clogged by years of rust scale that falls off the inside of the pipe and clogs a 90 degree bend in the pipe. Yes sewer gas problems can also be caused by plumbing vent pipes that are clogged.

Because a plumbing vent is passing only sewer gas not liquid waste that causes a drain not to function no one notices that it s leaking into the building until there is an odor complaint the pipe falls apart which may never happen or there is a sewer gas explosion. There may be a clog in the sewer line right where it meets the vent pipe. Clogged drains like air vents drains are responsible for the transportation of toxic waste through the septic system. Odors can signify a toilet leak or a crack in one of the plumbing vent pipes.

The distinctive smell of sewer gas wafting through your home means something is wrong with the plumbing. Vent pipes supply fresh air to each plumbing fixture in the house which helps the system move water through the drainage pipes each time a toilet is flushed or a sink is drained. Tennis balls leaves and all sorts of other debris can clog plumbing vent pipes. This blockage keeps air from traveling up the vent pipe properly.

Plumbing air vents also prevent sewer gases from entering the home and allow wastewater gas and odor to escape. Local building codes that regulate the materials used in the dwv system have changed over the years so most older homes have a combination of materials. This can cause sewer gas to build up in the pipes and leak into the home. In canada the national plumbing code requires that the minimum trap arm be at least 2 times the pipe diameter e g 1 25 inch pipe needs a 2 5 inch trap arm 1 5 pipe needs a 3 inch trap arm etc and that the vent pipe be one size larger than the drain that it serves also a cleanout is required on both the vent and the drain.

Then the vent pipe may be re angled and a new cap may be put into place to keep debris from clogging it again.