 Plumbing vents, also known as vent stacks or air inlets, are an indispensable part for your plumbing drain system. These vents allow air into your drainage system to create proper pressure in the pipes, allowing the wastewater to flow smoothly into the septic tank or sewer pipes. Two processes work together; the one side of plumbing vent allows the liquid out, and one side controls airflow so the liquid runs out smoothly.
The main plumbing drain line is located in a basement or crawlspace coming straight down from your house. It is mostly made of either cast iron or, in modern homes, black PVC pipe. When the toilet is flushed and you hear a large draining sound and water flows through the plumbing pipes going to the septic tank or city sewer. The other side of the system helps regulate the pressure. Proper pressure is essential in the plumbing system as it helps make smooth water flow in the pipe. Also, the air inlet is the outlet for sewer gases and prevent it from entering the home. Can plumbing vents go down? Generally, plumbing vents have no curves and go straight up and down. These vents will need periodic inspection as it can be clogged or damaged. Clogged or damaged vents will affect the drain's force of suction resulting to slow drainage and gurgling noise coming from different drain openings. Also, sewer gases may enter the home and exposure to low levels of hydrogen sulphide may cause eye inflammation, respiratory tract irritation and other symptoms such as nervousness, dizziness, nausea, headache, and drowsiness.  Homes need plumbing vents. At some point, they need cleaning as these vents can become clogged or damaged, causing stoppages and a host of other issues. Periodic cleaning is essential in order to keep drains flowing smoothly.
Why your home needs plumbing vents The plumbing vent helps control the air pressure in the plumbing system. Plumbing air vent removes gas and odours and lets fresh air in the plumbing system to make water flow easily to the drain pipes. No water flows through the plumbing vent pipe. It is in a vertical position attached to a drain line and runs through the roof of your home. This pipe leads to the main roof vent to release the exhaust gases to the vent and creates proper pressure in the waste system. Plumbing vents are an important part of the home’s plumbing system. It is designed to efficiently remove water and waste. Its two systems work together, the drainage and vent function. The wastewater flows out of your home through the drainage pipes and goes either to the septic tank or the city sewer. Vent pipes provide air to each plumbing connection in the house to allow the system to move water through the drainage pipes every time a sink is drained or a toilet is flushed. Also, plumbing air vents stop sewer gases from entering the home and release wastewater odour. Where are plumbing vents located? They are located on roofs, away from windows or air conditioning units, so that the fumes can easily diffuse.  The plumbing system is a critical part of every home. But have you ever wonder where does plumbing waste go?
Septic tank The septic system is common in rural areas with a lot of lands available. Parts of the septic system include the septic tank and the drain field. The waste from the house flows in the tank. It deposits the wastewater in the drain field, where the soil naturally treats the water. Large sewer system For homes in urban areas, a larger sewer system processes the waste. Commonly, wastewater will flow to three different stages of treatment.
Other types of waste disposal There are other types of water disposal available. A cesspool is another common option in rural areas. It works almost like a septic tank. However, the cesspool does not need a drain field because it is just a hole in the ground, lined with brick or cement blocks. The liquid waste goes right into the soil around the cesspool. Another form of a sewer system in some places have electric treatment substitutes conventional secondary treatment. Here the aeration is powered electronically.  When it comes to plumbing problems, you need qualified plumbers to work repair and maintain home plumbing. They have the tools and expertise to handle any plumbing issues. They can answer your question about what plumbing does a dishwasher need, what to do with a clogged kitchen sink, water heater issues and more.
Depending on the task, the cost of plumbing services vary. Here we talk about some factors that can influence the cost. Type of services. If the problem is just a leaky tap or just a simple repair on the toilet, the cost could be lesser than a major emergency repair. It may cost more if it involves digging and cutting. Materials needed. The needed materials to use to fix the fixtures can also affect your overall cost. It will add up to the labour cost. Emergency services. As they also work during regular hours, calling them in the middle of the night or during the holidays can add to paying more. Since they have to cover the overhead cost, some emergency plumbing service may even charge you once they show up at your home. Also, the cost of plumbing services differs from location to location. Some may think that the price for plumbers is not cheap and that a cheaper alternative can save them money. The thing is getting the services of a qualified plumber or hiring a licensed plumbing service provider is a smart step to take when plumbing issues occur. Having and qualified plumber take care of the problem get the job done right.  Is your tap water brown? There are causes why the tap water in your house comes brown. Here are some of the possible causes:
The first thing you want to do is get rid of it. Do not worry and don’t panic. Check if the problem is coming only from one tap or if it is happening to all your faucets. See if your neighbours are also having the same water issue or if it is only happening in your home. If this is a problem that your neighbours are also experiencing, then it could be water maintenance undergoing in your area. If your house is the only one having water problems, then something is wrong with your water pipes. You local plumber can help you fix tap water that has turned brown, murky, cloudy or otherwise discoloured.  It can be tempting to fix a plumbing problem when it happens, especially if you are a DIY guy. Perhaps you can fix most household plumbing repairs and even update plumbing fixtures with just a few special tools and a little elbow grease. Plumbing repairs whether it is major or minor should be dealt with care and only by someone who knows exactly what they are doing or else there may be some consequences. DIY also makes these plumbing mistakes:
Overtightening connections. Overtightening may deteriorate connections. The most common mistake of DIYers is overtightening supply tubes, pipe and fittings and toilet bolts. You risk damage when you crank up too hard on galvanized or black pipe, coupling, tee or elbow. The damage may not happen right away, but the extreme force can break the fitting weeks later, causing a flood. Also, cranking up too hard on the plastic fittings on the toilet and faucet supply tubes also result in damage. Badly attached pipes. Most DIYers are inspired to fix their own pipes once they find minor leaks. However, those who try to do it often tends to do a mismatched attachment of pipes which can lead to big problems in the future. Not having the right tools. The plumbing job gets easy when you have the right tools on hand. For DIYers, things go really wrong when they try to skate by and make-do with the tools they have on hand. Not using the right tool can break the pipe. You can avoid making such damage by using the right tool for the plumbing job. It is best to leave serious plumbing problems to the professionals. If you want to know what plumbing do you need for your washing machine, kitchen, bathroom and others you may consult your local plumber.  Compression fittings are very common materials in plumbing. This is popular with Do-It-Yourselfers as a safe way to join copper pipe without the use of heat.
Compression fittings are necessary connectors to make different types of valves, tees, connectors and utilities watertight and safe. The new fitting will have a similar depth so the pipe will go into a depth where the existing olive will seal. How compression fitting work It works by the compression of an ‘olive’ within two tapered surfaces and the pipe itself. The two surfaces are the body of the fitting (be it a valve, connector or any other type) and the nut. Using a spanner and a pair of grips the nut is tightened. This exerts pressure on the olive and bites it onto the pipe. Clean and properly-cut pipes will make the compression fittings work well. Using a pipe slice is a good tool for such a job and are excellent in tight spaces. Installation Cut and clean the pipe. Then put together the compression fitting by sliding on the nut and olive at both ends. Use a grip to hold the compression fitting body tightly and tighten the nut with a spanner. Do not over tighten a compression fitting to leave you with more thread in the event of a leak and not crushing the olive or fitting. Commonly, a nut will need one whole turn after hand tightening. Also, for a better watertight seal, you want to wrap PTFE tape around a compression fitting olive. Can plumbing olives be reused? The answer is no. Olives can't be used once removed from the pipe. Even hand tightening a fitting with olive inside before the pipe is enough to make the olive unusable.  Do you need help to fix your bathroom plumbing? The bathroom is one of the most used areas in the house sometime soon problems in your bathroom plumbing may come up. Plumbing issues like jammed faucets, clogged toilets and damaged tiles are just some issues that could happen to your bathroom.
While some of the problems may be possible to fix by yourself, it is still best to have a professional look at it. Here are some indications that your bathroom plumbing needs fixing: Mould in your pipes. Though mould is common in homes, it’s not as common for mould to grow in the interior of water pipes or filters. Since the bathroom is also the home of moist, mould can develop inside. Mould growth is an indication that there is a leak in the plumbing system or the heater. Check any leaks and make sure to clean the bathroom regularly to avoid possible formation of moulds. Low water pressure. Poor water pressure can be caused by many things. Minor problems like closed shut-off valve or a blocked faucet can cause low water pressure. More serious problems like plumbing blockages or water leaks decrease water pressure, too. To possibly remove the sludge in the pipes, you can use a vinegar solution and then run your faucets. If the problem persists, the pipes may already be corroded, or there is a problem with the water heater. Also, you may need a plumbing service when you have poor water quality, water has bad odour and dripping as these can elevate to a bigger problem when ignored. Use the services of a qualified plumber as they know what plumbing is need for kitchen sink, toilet and other bathroom fittings.  Plumbing problems may happen sometime soon. But when do you need a plumber? Should you call a plumber only when there is an emergency? Aside from emergency plumbing services you can use, you may call your local plumber for any plumbing problems you have at home.
You may fix minor plumbing issues, but when it comes to a major plumbing problem that requires immediate repair you need to call your local plumber. But if want to make sure simple problems fixed right, you may consider calling your plumber for the job. Typical problems that professional plumbers fix and why you should call them when this need arises: Clog in the kitchen sink. If there is a clog in the kitchen sink and you don’t know how to reach it, this is where your local plumber comes helpful. Professional plumbers mostly have little cameras and digital devices they can use to look inside the pipe so that they can know exactly where to fix the problem. Also, if you want to know what plumbing is required for a dishwasher you may consult your plumber. Dripping faucets and leaking water heaters. This plumbing situation is considered as one of the most annoying plumbing problems for most homes. Constant leaks will eventually increase the water bill. When you call for plumbing service, the plumber will look for the leak and what pipe needs fixing or replacing. Qualified plumbers are well equipped to stop all leaks. Plumbers also deal with complicated fixture problems which are difficult for most homeowners. If you are in need of a good plumber make sure to do some research for reputable companies so that they can come to your home and help you with any of your plumbing emergencies.  A little humidity is important to comfort in a home, especially during winter. However, a house with lots of vents can look disordered. If several pipes are going through your roof, you may want to connect them to keep the holes in the roof to a minimum.
Depending on the code, you may be able to combine at least some of those vents. It is also important to verify your local codes to see what's acceptable. If says that a house must have at least one 3-inch-diameter vertical stack, a pipe that starts at the horizontal drain line to the septic or sewer system and exits through the roof. The smaller vents don't need to penetrate the roof, but they have to tie into the stack above the highest fixture in the building. As an option, if allowed in your area, cut off the secondary vents in the attic at least 6 inches above the ceiling insulation and cap each one with an air-admittance vent. This is a thing with a diaphragm that enables air to enter the stack when water goes down the drain but doesn't allow sewer gases to escape into the house. Can plumbing vents freeze? In severe cold weather, water vapour in the vent can freeze on the top of the stack, and may close it off completely. Freezing temperature puts your vent at risk. To prevent this from happening, while the weather is good before winter, consult your local plumber about preventive measures to keep your vents safe from extreme cold weather. |