Plumbing Vents On Your Roof…Why Are They Important?
The plumbing vents on your roof actually play a more important role to your home than you might think. Like most households, plumbing issues can arise suddenly, but diagnosing the problem might be more than just checking the water pipes. Plumbing vents are an important part of your plumbing system. They can also become clogged or damaged and not allow your plumbing system to function properly.
Read more so you know everything you need to know about plumbing vents and why they are so important.
What is a Plumbing Vent?
A plumbing vent is also known as a vent stack and helps regulate the air pressure in your plumbing system. Just as drain pipes remove water and waste from your home, plumbing vents do the same, but with removing gas and odors. It also is great for allowing fresh air into the pipes to help the water flow smoothly through them. However, no water runs through the plumbing vent pipe.
The plumbing vent is a vertical pipe that attaches to a drain pipe and runs through the roof of your home. The vent stack is the pipe leading to the main roof vent. It helps maintain atmospheric pressure in the waste system.
Why are Plumbing Vents On Your Roof Important?
The drainage and vent functions of a plumbing system actually work together. While drainage pipes carry waste out of your home, vent pipes supply fresh air to the plumbing fixtures in your house which helps the water flow smoothly through the drain pipes. A clogged vent is an issue because air can’t escape, not because it can’t get in.
Plumbing air vents also prevent sewer gasses from entering the home and allow the odors to escape. The reason why they are on the roofs of houses is because it allows the odors to easily dissipate away from the rest of the house.
How Can I Fix Problems With Plumbing Vent Pipes?
Your plumbing drainage system will not work if your vent stack is not working properly. Common ways of knowing you have a blocked vent:
- Gurgling sounds coming from your drains
- Standing water in your sink or bathtub
- Slow drains in the bathroom or kitchen
When a plumbing vent pipe is blocked, negative pressure will build up in your drain pipes. You may be able to clear the clogged drain yourself, but you may find that the blockage will frequently occur if it is your vent pipe that is blocked and not your pipes. This may require you to call a professional plumber to come out and take care of the issue in your vent pipe.
Gravity, Air and Traps
Gravity and air are the two things that work together to push water down the drain. It is common for home drains to have a trap that creates a low area that is filled with water even after the basin is emptied.
The trap’s function ensures that no sewer gasses travel up the pipe and into the house. Because the traps remain filled with water, sewer gasses stay in the pipes.
Avoid Risks to Health
In order to keep your house safe, plumbing vents on the roof are needed. It is important to make sure that all of your plumbing fixtures are well ventilated. When air passes through your pipes freely, the effect of a suction is prevented because of plumbing vents and does not allow dangerous gasses into your home.
Watch for Signs
It is really important to note that you should be doing regular maintenance on your plumbing vents. In order to be safe from your whole plumbing system malfunctioning, you should make sure that your plumbing vents are working properly.
Final Thoughts
Plumbing vents probably weren’t very important to you before, but they should be more important to you now! Without plumbing vents, your plumbing system wouldn’t be able to work properly. Knowing why they are important and being able to notice when you might be having an issue with them can be really helpful if you find that you are having frequent problems with your drains.
Call 1-Tom-Plumber
Don’t hesitate to contact us here or call us at 1-Tom-Plumber (1-866-758-6237) if you need a drain cleaning service. 1-Tom-Plumber’s certified team of plumbers and drain technicians respond immediately to any emergency plumbing, drain cleaning, or water damage problem. We also handle the excavation of underground water lines and sewer main lines. Our immediate-response team is available every day and night of the year, even on holidays.
