Cleaning Drain Vent Pipe

In order to access the roof you will need a ladder ensure that you observe the aspects of ladder safety such as placing it on a level solid ground.

Cleaning drain vent pipe.

Some folks will use a garden hose to clear their vent pipe. Feed the end of a garden hose down the vent pipe and have someone on the ground turn on the water. If not use a sewer auger to clear it. For those items you can t remove from above run the plumber s snake down the vent pipe.

It helps maintain proper atmospheric pressure in a building s waste system and channels the exhaust gasses to the vent. The force of the water should clear the obstruction and the water will continue down the stack to the sewer. Turn the handle to push the head through the blockage. Cleaning a drain vent step 1 mount the roof.

Bring a 20 foot sewer auger onto the roof. The vent pipe is usually found on the roof you will need to look for a 3inch diameter black pipe which is either made of pvc or cast iron. The force of the plunger may clear the obstruction in the main stack. Water will begin to drain when you have succeeded.

If the pipe won t drain you ll need to try the auger. Step 3 clean the vent. Insert the head into the vent opening and feed in the cable until you encounter the. A 10 to 20 foot length is recommended.

Then try the following. If you only use a garden hose you ll be back up on your roof in no time clearing another vent pipe problem. Feed the cable bit by bit until you hit a barrier. The pipe leading to the main roof vent is called the vent stack.

If the blockage is stubborn you may have to clear it with a 20 foot sewer auger. Step 2 locate the vent. Remove any items you can reach. The plumbing vent pipe is a vertical pipe that attaches to the drain line and runs through the roof of a home.

That s a short term solution. If the blockage is deeper inside insert a garden hose into the vent and turn on the water. If you can see but can t reach run a plumber s snake down the vent pipe. Use a flashlight to shine a bright light down the vent pipe to look for further blockage you can reach.

This is usually a plastic or metal pipe about 4 inches in diameter that extends 1 to 2 feet. To continue feed the end of a garden hose down the vent and have someone on the ground turn on the water. There is still gunk gathering on the sides of your pipe that you need to clear out. Leave the hose on the roof while you climb down and fetch a 10 to 20 foot plumbing auger also known as a snake.