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Mobile ViewPLUMBING SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR AGE of PLUMBING MATERIALS & FIXTURES AGE of HEATERS, BOILERS, FURNACES AGE of WATER HEATERS AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES AIR INLET VALVE, WATER TANK AIR VOLUME CONTROLS, WATER TANK ANTI SCALD VALVES ANTI SCALD VALVE PROTECTION, Best Practices ANODES & DIP TUBES on WATER HEATERS APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS AQUASTAT CONTROL Functions BACKDRAFTING HEATING EQUIPMENT BACKFLOW PREVENTER VALVE, HEATING SYS BACKFLOW PREVENTER, HEATER WATER FEEDER BACKUP PREVENTION, SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION, SEWER LINE BACKWATER VALVES, SEWER LINE BATH & KITCHEN DESIGN GUIDE BATHROOM MOLD BATHROOM VENTILATION BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS Bisphenol-A, BPA BLEVE EXPLOSIONS BLOCKED DRAIN REPAIR METHODS BOILERS, HEATING BUILDING SAFETY HAZARDS GUIDE CAR MOLD CONTAMINATION CARBON MONOXIDE - CO CHECK VALVES, WATER SUPPLY CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS in WATER CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR CHLORAMINE / CHLORINE Tests CHLORINE IN DRINKING WATER CHLORINE in WATER, HOW TO TEST FOR CHLORINE IN SEPTIC WASTEWATER CISTERNS CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, DIAGNOSIS CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, REPAIR CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, HOT WATER CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS CROSS CONNECTIONS, PLUMBING DEBRIS in WATER SUPPLY, Water Heater DEPTH of DRAIN & SEWER PIPES DEPTH of SEPTIC TANK DRAIN & SEWER PIPING DRAIN LINE DEPTH DRAIN NOISES DRAIN a WATER HEATER TANK DRINKING WATER - EMERGENCY PURIFICATION DRINKING WATER - EMERGENCY SOURCES DRYER VENTING ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS FAUCETS & CONTROLS, KITCHEN & BATH FAUCETS, OUTDOOR HOSE BIBBS FILTERS, WATER FLARE FITTINGS FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FLOODED HEATING EQUIPMENT REPAIR FLOODED SEPTIC SYSTEMS, REPAIR FLOODED WATER HEATER REPAIR FLOOR DRAIN / TRAP ODORS FLUSHOMETER VALVES for TOILETS URINALS FREEZE-PROOF PIPES GAS FIRED WATER HEATERS GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION HARD WATER - SOFTENERS HEAT TAPES, Heat, Insulation prevent Freeze-Up HOT WATER HEATERS KITCHEN & BATH DESIGN GUIDE KITCHEN VENTILATION LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE LEAD WATER PIPING HAZARDS & REMEDIES LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION MANUALS & PARTS GUIDES - HVAC METHANE GAS SOURCES MIXING / ANTI-SCALD VALVES MIX VALVE SCALD PROTECTION, Best Practices MUNICIPAL WATER PRESSURE IMPROVEMENTS MOLD INFORMATION CENTER MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE NOISE CONTROL for HEATING SYSTEMS NOISE CONTROL for PLUMBING NOISE, PLUMBING DRAIN DIAGNOSIS NOISE, PLUMBING DRAIN REPAIR NOISE, PLUMBING CHECKLIST NOISE, WATER HEATER NOISES, WATER PUMP ODORS GASES SMELLS, DIAGNOSIS & CURE ODORS IN WATER ODORS, SEPTIC or SEWER ODORS SEWER GAS in COLD WEATHER ODORS, SULPHUR SMELL SOURCES ODORS, URINE REMOVAL OIL FIRED WATER HEATERS OIL-FIRED BOILERS, HEATING OIL FILTERS on HEATING EQUIPMENT OIL FUEL TYPES & CHARACTERISTICS OIL & GAS PIPING OIL TANKS OUTHOUSES & LATRINES PIPING IN buildings, Clogs Leaks Types AGE OF PIPING AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES BRASS WATER PIPES CAST IRON DRAIN PIPING CAST IRON DRAIN LEAK, ODOR, REPAIR CHECK VALVES, WATER SUPPLY CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS COMPRESSION FITTINGS COPPER PIPING in buildings CLEANOUTS, PLUMBING DRAIN CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, DIAGNOSIS CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, REPAIR CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, HOT WATER CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS CROSS CONNECTIONS, PLUMBING DEBRIS in WATER SUPPLY, Water Heater DIAELECTRIC PIPE FITTINGS DRAIN & SEWER PIPING DRAIN LINE DEPTH DRAIN NOISES FLARE FITTINGS FLOOR DRAIN / TRAP ODORS FREEZE-PROOF PIPES GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS GALVANIZED STEEL WATER PIPING LEAD PIPES in buildings LEAD IN DRINKING WATER, HOW to REDUCE LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE LEAD WATER PIPING HAZARDS & REMEDIES LEAK TYPES, Water Supply/Drain Pipe OIL TANK PIPING & PIPING DEFECTS PLASTIC PIPING PLASTIC PIPE LEAK CAUSES PLUMBING DRAIN CLEANOUTS PLUMBING DRAIN VENTS PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE REPAIR PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE REPAIR PLUMBING NOISE CHECKLIST PLUMBING NOISE CONTROL PLUMBING VENT DEFINITIONS & TYPES PLUMBING VENT DEFECTS & NOISES REPAIR BURST LEAKY PIPES SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION SEPTIC BACKUP REPAIR SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION SEWER GAS ODORS SEWER GAS ODORS in COLD WEATHER SEWER LINE LEAKS & ODORS SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT SOUND CONTROL for PLUMBING SUPPLY PIPING BRASS WATER PIPES COMPRESSION FITTINGS COPPER PIPING in buildings GALVANIZED STEEL WATER PIPING LEAD PIPES in buildings LEAD IN DRINKING WATER, HOW to REDUCE LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE LEAD WATER PIPING HAZARDS & REMEDIES LEAK TYPES, Water Supply/Drain Pipe OIL TANK PIPING & PIPING DEFECTS PLASTIC PIPING PLASTIC PIPE LEAK CAUSES Transite Pipe Water Supply Piping VALVES, PLUMBING WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE WATER PIPES, Clogs Leaks Types Water pipe clog diagnosis Water pipe clog repair guide WELL PIPING LEAK DIAGNOSIS WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR PLUMBING FIXTURES, KITCHEN, BATH Plumbing Materials & Fixtures, Age, Types PUMPS & WELLS RANGE BOILERS RELIEF VALVES - TP Valves on Boilers RELIEF VALVES - STEAM TP VALVES RELIEF VALVES - Water Heaters RELIEF VALVES - Water Tanks SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION SEWER GAS ODORS SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT SEWAGE BACKUP, WHAT TO DO SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP SEWAGE BACKUP PREVENTION SEWAGE BACKUP TEST & CLEANUP SEWAGE & SEPTIC CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE CONTAMINATION in buildings SEWAGE CONTAMINANTS in FRUIT / VEGETABLES SEWAGE EJECTOR / GRINDER PUMPS SEWAGE NITROGEN CONTAMINANTS SEWAGE PATHOGENS in SEPTIC SLUDGE SEWAGE PUMPS SEWAGE PUMP CLOG DAMAGE SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION SEWER GAS ODORS SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT SHUTOFF VALVE LOCATION, USE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS SULPHUR & SEWER GAS SMELL SOURCES SUMP PUMPS GUIDE SUPPLY PIPING SWEATING (CONDENSATION) on PIPES, TANKS TANK TYPES: WATER, OIL, EXPANSION, ALL TANKLESS COILS TANKLESS WATER HEATERS Temperature Pressure Relief Valves - Water Heaters TIMERS for ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS TOILETS, INSPECT, INSTALL, REPAIR TOILET ALTERNATIVES TOILET FLUSHOMETER VALVES TOILET INSTALLATION PROCEDURE TOILET OVERFLOW EMERGENCY TOILET PLUGS, SEWER BACKUP TOILET REPAIR GUIDE TOILET TISSUE CHOICES TOILET TISSUE TEST TOILET TYPES Toilet Types, Flush Methods TOILETS, DON'T FLUSH LIST TRAPS on PLUMBING FIXTURES VALVES, PLUMBING VENT PIPING WATER CONTAMINANT LEVELS WATER FILTERS WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE WATER HEATERS WATER HEATER ALTERNATIVES WATER HEATER ANODES, DIP TUBES WATER HEATER AIR INLET WATER HEATER DEBRIS FLUSH WATER HEATER DRAIN PROCEDURE WATER HEATER EFFICIENCY WATER HEATER FLUSH PROCEDURE WATER HEATER NOISES WATER HEATER PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS WATER HEATER PROPERTIES WATER HEATER SCALE - De-Liming Procedure WATER HEATER SCALE PREVENTION WATER HEATER SAFETY WATER HEATERS for HOME HEATING USE? WATER ODORS, CAUSE CURE WATER PIPES, Clogs Leaks Types WATER PRESSURE & FLOW MEASUREMENT WATER PRESSURE GAUGE ACCURACY WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR WATER PRESSURE PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS TABLE WATER PRESSURE REDUCER / REGULATOR WATER PRESSURE REPAIR GUIDE - WELLS WATER PRESSURE SETTING on WELL PUMPS WATER PRESSURE VARIATION CAUSES WATER PUMPS, TANKS, TESTS, WELLS, REPAIRS WATER PUMPS & WELLS WATER PUMP SAFETY WATER PUMP CAPACITIES TYPES RATES GPM WATER PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL ADJUSTMENT WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL REPAIR WATER PUMP PROBLEM DIAGNOSTIC TABLE WATER PUMP REPAIR GUIDE WATER PUMP SAFETY WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING WATER PUMP TYPES & LIFE EXPECTANCY WATER PUMP WONT STOP RUNNING WATER PURIFIERS WATER QUALITY TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT WATER QUANTITY USAGE GUIDE WATER SHUTOFF VALVE LOCATION, USE WATER SHUTOFF VALVE, WELL PUMP WATER SOFTENERS & CONDITIONERS WATER SOURCE ALTERNATIVES WATER SUPPLY & DRAIN PIPING WATER TANK: USES, TROUBLESHOOTING Water Tank & Pump Costs WATER TANK: USES, TROUBLESHOOTING WATER TANK AIR, HOW TO ADD WATER TANK AIR INLET VALVE WATER TANK AIR LOSS SIGNS WATER TANK AIR VALVE REPAIRS WATER TANK AIR VOLUME CONTROLS WATER TANK BLADDERS & CAPTIVE AIR WATER TANK CAPTIVE AIR vs TRADITIONAL WellMate WATER TANK CONTROLS & SWITCHES WATER TANK LIFE EXPECTANCY WATER TANK PRESSURE CALCULATIONS WATER TANK PRESSURE GAUGE WATER TANK PRESSURE GAUGE ACCURACY WATER TANK PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE WATER TANK REPAIRS WATER TANK REPLACEMENT WATER TANK SAFETY WATER TANK SIZE & VOLUME WATER TANK TYPES: WATER, OIL, EXPANSION, ALL WATER TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT WATER TESTING ADVICE WATER TEST CHOICES & WATER TEST FEES WATER TEST FEES WATER TEST INTERPRETATION WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT CHOICES WELL PUMP PRIMING PROCEDURE WELLS CISTERNS & SPRINGS WINTERIZE A BUILDING More Information |
This article defines plumbing vent system terms, distances, and functions, and other specifications and code requirements. We explain how plumbing vents work on buildings, why plumbing vent piping is needed, and what happens to the building drains when the vent piping is not working. We define the soil stack, waste stack, wet vents and dry vents, and we summarize the distances permitted between plumbing fixtures and their vent piping. We also explain how sewer gas odors m may be traced to plumbing vent problems. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.© Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. Plumbing Vent System Terms, Definitions, & Types of VentsOur page top sketch of a plumbing stack vent and other sketches included below are provided courtesy of Carson Dunlop. At PLUMBING DRAIN VENTS we explain the basics of proper plumbing vent piping and how errors cause trap siphonage, odors, and noises. We discuss how to diagnose and cure drain sounds at PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS. Other advice about controlling plumbing noises in buildings is at SOUND CONTROL for PLUMBING. More details about plumbing drain line venting can be found at PLUMBING VENT DEFINITIONS & TYPES, also PLUMBING VENT DEFECTS & NOISES and at CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR.
2. Allow sewer gases to be vented safely outdoors. Because sewer gases may flow back up into the building drain piping from a public sewer or private septic system, and because some sewer gases are included in building waste flowing through the piping, the plumbing vent system needs to carry these gases outside, usually above the building roof, where they are disposed-of safely and without leaving unpleasant, or possibly dangerous smells and gases inside the building. The basic plumbing vent terms are shown in the sketch at left. In these notes, the plumbing stack vents and other sketches included below are provided courtesy of Carson Dunlop. What is the Plumbing Stack Vent?
What is the Difference Between a Soil Stack & a Waste Stack?
The waste stack pipe shown in the sketch refers to any other vertical drain piping in the building that does not carry soil (sewage) from a sanitary fixture (toilet). Typically waste stack piping carries drainage away from sinks, tubs, and showers. How far can the plumbing vent piping be located from a plumbing fixture?
Tables of Plumbing Drain Pipe & Vent Pipe Sizes & Critical Distances to Plumbing FixturesBelow our tables 1 and 2 summarize common plumbing code specifications for fixture venting and vent pipe sizes and distances that a plumbing fixture can be located (horizontally) from the vent stack. You'll see these distances also in our sketch at left. [Click any image to see an enlarged, detailed version.].
Plumbing Vent Routing SpecificationsWithin the building the plumbing vent routing is generally unrestricted. That is, dry vent piping carrying only air, sewer gas, or moisture to above the roof line is unrestricted. However the piping does need to be protected from nails - use nail plates to protect vent and drain piping both where where piping passes through studs, joists, or rafters. What is Direct Venting of Plumbing Fixtures?What is a Wet Vented Plumbing Fixture?
But a wet vented fixture requires a larger drain pipe diameter in its wet portion as we show in the sketch. This diameter increase helps assure adequate air flow into the drain system in the event that the sink basin (in this example) happens to be draining at the same moment that the toilet is flushed. (908.2.3.) Also note that wet vented fixtures (toilet, bathtub, shower, or floor drain) are permitted for bathrooms on the same floor level, not between floors. Table of Plumbing Vent Clearance Distances to Building FeaturesThe table below gives required clearance distances to various building features and cites pertinent model plumbing codes.
Plumbing Code Citations for Plumbing Vent or Vent Stack Clearance DistancesQuoting model plumbing code such as the IRC:
Plumbing Code Citation References
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about plumbing vent installation, definitions, & clearance distancesQuestion: can the soil stack curve above ground to avoid a wall?I am trying to find out if the soil stack can be curved above ground because there is a wall that I need to move. The wall will moved about 1 1/2 feet and the soil stack is currently inside the wall that I desire to move. This is in Portland, Oregon. The pipe that was used for the soil stack is cast iron, but I want to change this to the black ABS. Are there restrictions to how much the pipe can be curved? - Enan Reply: Take a look at the UPC (see citations in the article above or at "References" below. Certainly I've seen plenty of soil stacks (vent piping) that were not straight runs in above-ground (or above building) routing. Follow-Up comment: Actually the part of the pipe that I wanted to curve would be down in the basement below the water closet (toilet, sink, and shower)There is only 1 restroom in this house. This means that the part that is curved would be under load from all the water draining from the sink, toilet, and shower. I was trying to avoid tearing up the concrete floor to install new drainage pipe and also because of how close the soil stack is to the cement wall in the basement. The basement is not a full basement, but about a quarter of it is still crawl space which has been framed, and drywall installed (its used for storage). The soil stack runs next to this wall that is half concrete half drywall. My plan was to cut the soil stack about three or four feet above the concrete floor and then do a 45 degree turn until the pipe enters the drywall portion of the partitioned wall and then have it go straight up to the roof. Do you know if that might cause a problem with the pipe being under load from the drainage of the water closet? I planned to change everything above the cut that I make into the cast iron pipe with ABS. Of course I would brace everything that needs to be braced. Question: Can a sink and toilet share the same waste line and vent?Can a sink and toilet share the same waste line and vent? - Jim Reply: Yes but ...Jim: yes vent piping can be shared, but all fixtures need to meet the distance requirements. Question: drain trouble in a new house - bubbling lower floor toilet and slow drainI just moved and seem to be having trouble with the drained in the new house. When someone is in the shower upstairs air bubbles come from the toilet downstairs. If you try to flush the downstairs toilet the water will not drain. Just wondering if anyone knows what the problem might be and what I can do about it. Thank you. - Lucas Reply:Lucas: Question: one sink drains slowly and doesn't seem to clear - could it be a vent problem?All the sink and tolets drain great in the house but one sink in the upstairs bed room. I have ran a snake, many times pipes are clean. Drain will handle water slowly. But if I fill the sink open the plunger or even take it out, it take an extremly amount of time to drain Could it be the dry vent if so, How Do I Clean it Thank you for you time. - Larry Miller Reply:Larry, Follow-Up Comment: Derek Plumber offers more advice on clearing a blocked drainA snake does not always completely clear a clog, blockage depending on how long it has taken to build up the blog, blockage can mean a difference in how you approach. Of course start with a snake the issue u have with it still draining slow is most likely that as you have gone through the clog, blockage and pulled the snake out that the Black Tar is just collapsing back on itself thus making it nearly impossible to clear with a snake. If you have it draining slow this means that you have only cleared a path through the clog, blockage and that the issue is still there and will eventually blog up again. You can try running your HOT water slowly while using your snake in a back and for motion many times over attempting to pushing what breaks free and is small enough for the water to push through ... a plunger will have little effect in forcing this down the drain. This may or may not work. Your best approach at this point, now that it will drain is to use a power flusher (you may be able to rent one)the hose is sized for the drainage pipe your working with, this works by spraying high pressure water usually min 1500 psi through the hose which has a variety of different heads attached to end. Id suggest using the head that has 3 holes spraying backward as it will help u by pushing itself through the pipe. Make sure te hose is a good 3 feet in the pipe and u have a firm grip on it where it enters the clean out turn it on and run it slowly down back and start over till it is good and clear. - Derek Plumber Question: how to move a toilet across the room - drain vent pipe distance troubleI am trying to move a toilet 8 feet across a room, meaning that my venting pipe will be farther away than 5 feet. If I use the same soil stack, sloping the drain pipe 2 inches down over the 8 feet, do I need to add another vent stack pipe closer to the toilet to allow for air to escape, or can I allow the toilet to vent off of the existing vent stack? If I need to tap another vent stack into the line, any recommendations on how that needs to work? Reply:Steve, if the toilet waste line is 4" or more ID, one of the sketches above, as I read it, says you can go up to 10 feet away from the soil stack. Make sure you have proper slope as well. Question:Can I have 3 toilets on 3 different floors conneted to the same vertical 3 inch soil pipe without separate vent pipes also added? Other wet vented fixtures are connected upstream from the toilet on the 2nd floor, which is the highest floor. - Larry Gatti Reply:Larry, yes; you will need to review DWV layout schematics in the model codes or training manual. Question: definitions of discharge stack, waste stack, vent pipewhat is differentiate between discharge stack,waste stack and vent pipe. - Yana Reply:I take those terms to all refer to the vent pipe Question: can water in the basement come from a leaky vent stack drain line?When I have a heavy rain I have a puddle in the basement next to the bathroom drain pipes. This only happens during a heavy rain storm. Could I have a leak around the bathroom vent pipe? - Ray Reply: yes but ... check these two other wet basement diagnosis cluesRay, I have seen a few cases in which leaky vent stack flashing at the roof allowed water to run down the outside of a vertical plumbing vent stack pipe that in turn was enclosed in a chase-way that ran from roof to basement - water might indeed then show up in the basement. But there are at least two other things to check:
At BASEMENT LEAKS, INSPECT FOR we provide a series of inspection points useful for sure diagnosis of the cause of wet basement floors. Question: how much clearance between plumbing vent discharge opening and top of brick chimney?How much height clearance do I need between my plumbing vent discharge opening and the top of my brick chimney? Our vent pipe is located about 15 inches from the chimney. Chimney and vent are near the ridge (peak) of the roof. - Tim L. Reply: Two feet or 24" is a code interpretation for distance between plumbing vent stack rooftop termination and the top of a chimney that is less than 3 ft. away.Tim L - thank you for your question. I've reviewed and edited our section above on plumbing vent clearances to give code citations and details. I don't find chimneys explicitly named in plumbing vent sections of the model codes, but the distance to the "Nearest window, door, opening, air intake, or ventilation shaft" distance to plumbing vent needs to be 10 ft. horizontally OR the vent should terminate at least 24" (two feet) above the opening. I take this to include chimneys. Questions & Answers regarding this articleQuestions & answers about plumbing vent piping and systems: code, installation, distances, sizes Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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