Cleaning Drain 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.

Cleaning drain vent pipe.

If you can see but can t reach run a plumber s snake down the vent pipe. Insert the head into the vent opening and feed in the cable until you encounter the. If the blockage is stubborn you may have to clear it with a 20 foot sewer auger. The force of the plunger may clear the obstruction in the main stack.

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. Insert the head into the vent opening and. Water will begin to drain when you have succeeded. Step 3 clean the vent.

Step 2 locate the vent. If not use a sewer auger to clear it. Turn the handle to push the head through the blockage. If the blockage is deeper inside insert a garden hose into the vent and turn on the water.

For those items you can t remove from above run the plumber s snake down the vent pipe. 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 the pipe won t drain you ll need to try the auger.

Then try the following. Bring a 20 foot sewer auger onto the roof. Feed the end of a garden hose down the vent pipe and have someone on the ground turn on the water. Feed the cable bit by bit until you hit a barrier.

Withdraw the cable debris often comes with it. Some folks will use a garden hose to clear their vent pipe. This is usually a plastic or metal pipe about 4 inches in diameter that extends 1 to 2 feet. That s a short term solution.

A 10 to 20 foot length is recommended. Wear shoes with a firm grip to avoid an accidental fall while on the roof. Cleaning a drain vent step 1 mount the roof. Leave the hose on the roof while you climb down and fetch a 10 to 20 foot plumbing auger also known as a snake.

The plumbing vent pipe is a vertical pipe that attaches to the drain line and runs through the roof of a home. Use a flashlight to shine a bright light down the vent pipe to look for further blockage you can reach. To continue feed the end of a garden hose down the vent and have someone on the ground turn on the water. If you only use a garden hose you ll be back up on your roof in no time clearing another vent pipe problem.