Cleaning Out Plumbing Vent Pipe

If you can see but can t reach run a plumber s snake down the vent pipe.

Cleaning out plumbing vent pipe.

Bring a 20 foot sewer auger onto the roof. If you don t see any debris up top spray into the pipe with the hose nozzle set to full or jet. Sumps and receiving tanks shall be provided with substantial covers having a bolt and gasket type manhole or equivalent opening to permit access for inspection repairs and cleaning. I m pretty sure they have never been changed since build in the 1950s.

Insert the head into the vent opening and. The force of the plunger may clear the obstruction in the main stack. It s possible for example that a bird or other animal crawled into the pipe and died. The drainpipes are made of cast iron galvanized pipe copper or plastic.

The best way to clear a frozen vent is by pouring really hot water into the vent pipe. Screw an eye hook into the fascia and secure the top of the ladder by tying it to the hook with a second rope. The vent pipes remove or exhaust sewer gases and allow air to enter the system so that the wastewater flows freely. Use a coupling that has a threaded cleanout on it and also install a plug onto the cleanout.

This makes access to the vent pipe easier in the future as you would only need to remove the plug from the cleanout and insert the auger cable into it. Local building codes that regulate the materials used in the dwv system have changed over the years so most older homes have a combination of materials. But climbing up a ladder with a bucket of hot water can be dangerous. A simpler way of doing this is to connect a rubber hose rated for use with hot water to the hot water spigot at your washing machine.

To continue feed the end of a garden hose down the vent and have someone on the ground turn on the water. Thank you clean out for coming out so quickly and getting the job done in 100 weather. If not use a sewer auger to clear it. The top shall be provided with a vent pipe that shall extend separately through the roof or where permitted be combined with other vent pipes.

Bring a screwdriver and a garden hose with an adjustable nozzle with you when you. Use a flashlight to shine a bright light down the vent pipe to look for further blockage you can reach.