Cleaning Drain Vent Pipe

If the pipe won t drain you ll need to try the auger.

Cleaning drain vent pipe.

Some folks will use a garden hose to clear their vent pipe. 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. Turn the handle to push the head through the blockage. Leave the hose on the roof while you climb down and fetch a 10 to 20 foot plumbing auger also known as a snake.

Remove any items you can reach. Step 2 locate the vent. That s a short term solution. Cleaning a drain vent step 1 mount the roof.

The force of the water should clear the obstruction and the water will continue down the stack to the sewer. Bring a 20 foot sewer auger onto the roof. If you only use a garden hose you ll be back up on your roof in no time clearing another vent pipe problem. If you can see but can t reach run a plumber s snake down the vent pipe.

If the blockage is deeper inside insert a garden hose into the vent and turn on the water. 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. The plumbing vent pipe is a vertical pipe that attaches to the drain line and runs through the roof of a home. The pipe leading to the main roof vent is called the vent stack.

For those items you can t remove from above run the plumber s snake down the vent pipe. If not use a sewer auger to clear it. Wear shoes with a firm grip to avoid an accidental fall while on the roof. Feed the end of a garden hose down the vent pipe and have someone on the ground turn on the water.

It helps maintain proper atmospheric pressure in a building s waste system and channels the exhaust gasses to the vent. If the blockage is stubborn you may have to clear it with a 20 foot sewer auger. Insert the head into the vent opening and feed in the cable until you encounter the. Feed the cable bit by bit until you hit a barrier.

The force of the plunger may clear the obstruction in the main stack. Withdraw the cable debris often comes with it. Water will begin to drain when you have succeeded. Step 3 clean the vent.

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. A 10 to 20 foot length is recommended.