Many homeowners think of their plumbing systems as only consisting of the water supply pipes and drainpipes. Vent pipes are also an important part of your plumbing system. They are the pipes that run vertically from your drain plumbing and terminate at your roof. You can easily mistake venting problems for other plumbing malfunctions. Here are the signs of poorly-vented drain lines.
Poor Flushing Action
If your toilet requires repeated flushes to clear the bowl and the water level is slow to return to the pre-flush level, a clogged vent may be the culprit. The blockage creates excess pressure in your sewer line that restricts the free flow of water.
Bubbles in Toilet Bowl
If you see bubbles in your toilet bowl even when it's not in use, you may be having a blocked vent. The positive pressure that develops inside your pipes causes air to rise through your toilet bowl.
Strange Sounds
There shouldn't be much noise coming from your drains after your sinks, showers or bathtubs have been emptied or after you've flushed the toilet. If you hear bubbling and gurgling noises coming from them, that could be a sign of a vent problem. The sounds are produced by the excess air pressure inside the poorly-vented drain lines.
Sluggish Drains
A slow drain can result from a clog inside your drainpipe. If plunger or a drain cleaning product can't solve the problem, an obstruction in a vent pipe may be the cause.
Bad Odor
If there's a pungent smell in your home, especially near your sink and drains, you probably have a venting problem. Your plumbing system features drain traps that hold some water to act as a barrier against seepage of sewer gas. Poor venting creates negative pressure in your drains that siphons water from the traps, allowing sewer gas to enter your home. Fixing a vent stack requires expertise and use of specialized tools. It's best to leave the problem to a professional plumber.
For more information on poorly-vented drain lines, contact us at Air Assurance. We serve the Broken Arrow area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “NarisaFotoSS/Shutterstock”