Cleaning Drain Vent Pipe

Feed the end of a garden hose down the vent pipe and have someone on the ground turn on the water.

Cleaning drain vent pipe.

To continue feed the end of a garden hose down the vent and have someone on the ground turn on the water. The force of the plunger may clear the obstruction in the main stack. Insert the head into the vent opening and feed in the cable until you encounter the. If you can see but can t reach run a plumber s snake down the vent pipe.

Cleaning a drain vent step 1 mount the roof. The plumbing vent pipe is a vertical pipe that attaches to the drain line and runs through the roof of a home. Remove any items you can reach. Step 3 clean the vent.

If the blockage is stubborn you may have to clear it with a 20 foot sewer auger. If not use a sewer auger to clear it. If the pipe won t drain you ll need to try the auger. 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.

Use a flashlight to shine a bright light down the vent pipe to look for further blockage you can reach. For those items you can t remove from above run the plumber s snake down the vent pipe. Water will begin to drain when you have succeeded. 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.

Withdraw the cable debris often comes with it. There is still gunk gathering on the sides of your pipe that you need to clear out. If the blockage is deeper inside insert a garden hose into the vent and turn on the water. Leave the hose on the roof while you climb down and fetch a 10 to 20 foot plumbing auger also known as a snake.

It helps maintain proper atmospheric pressure in a building s waste system and channels the exhaust gasses to the vent. Insert the head into the vent opening and. This is usually a plastic or metal pipe about 4 inches in diameter that extends 1 to 2 feet. Turn the handle to push the head through the blockage.

The pipe leading to the main roof vent is called the vent stack. The force of the water should clear the obstruction and the water will continue down the stack to the sewer. 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.

Wear shoes with a firm grip to avoid an accidental fall while on the roof. Then try the following. A 10 to 20 foot length is recommended. Bring a 20 foot sewer auger onto the roof.