Unblocking A Plumbing Vent

The problems with the drainage function of the kitchen sinks or the bathroom sinks indicate a fault in the sink traps, drain pipe or the plumbing vents.

Check the drain pipe and the plumbing traps for possible clogging. If everything looks alright with the sink traps and the drain pipes then the problem may lie with the plumbing vent.

Plumbing vents are the plumbing devices or fragments that allow the waste gases produced from the said waste to escape out of the building. Also it supplies oxygen to the drainage system which in turn fuels the aerobic sewage digestion. Hence they complement the overall working of the plumbing traps and the drainage pipes.

Generally the vents are located at the roof in the form of a metal or a plastic pipe of 3-4 inches in diameter. It extends up to 2 feet above the roof surface and vents out all the gases from the drainage system.

Kick off the campaign by apprehending the site and analyzing possible ways to reach the vent. Don’t forget that if the roof is wet and saturated then the task may have certain degree of risk involved with it. Consult a contractor to take his opinion on how to reach out to the top without exerting a good weight on the roof.

An additional roof ladder extending from the inclined ladder to the ridge of the vent may be used so as to place yourself in a comfortable position. This would also prevent you from standing on the wet and saturated roof.

Look into the vent with the help of a torch to explore any hidden clog down the vent. The clog would generally be in the form of leaves, debris, dust particles and other foreign materials. If the clog lies at a shallow depth then remove it with the help of bare hands only. If it is a moderate one then a long bamboo stick or a metal rod would do the job. If however the clog still looks unreachable then a hose-pipe may come to the rescue. Force down water from the pipe to unblock the vent.

If however the force of the water is not enough to unclog the vent then insert the hose pipe into the vent transforming it into a plumber’s snake. This would surely remove any clog stuck in the vent.

Scott Rodgers has been excelling with plumbing contents for a long time now. His unique guidance has created business opportunities for many Las Vegas Plumbers and Raritan Plumbers.