Plumbing Drain Vent

Almost everyone has a basic understanding of a plumbing system but many are unaware that the plumbing drain vent exists. The what you say? There are actually two important components in plumbing - the drain waste and the vent piping.

The drain waste and vent system are the systems that transport waste away from your house to the public system or your septic system. This system works on gravity and the modern system is usually made using PVC.

The venting system is an important component of the drainage system. This is a set of pipes designed to let gasses escape which relieves pressure so that the waste water can properly drain.

You'll see these vent pipes on the roofs of houses. They are required to meet code. They are an integral part of the drainage system and the gravity system.

There are other vent types like the air admittance vents that are found under the sink. They draw air from under the sink and stop sewer gases from getting out. They reduce the amount of waste line you have to run and they reduce the number of penetrations you have to make on your roof so they are definitely beneficial.

Once the pipes are correctly installed the waste water pipes are ready to be tied into your sewer system. Besides hooking into the vent system it will also have to tie into the municipal or septic system.

If you didn't have a proper vent system the gases would flow up the stack and the drain pipes. The trap uses the U and is installed below the drain. This is the secondary system for trapping gasses. The water stops the gasses from being able to move up the pipe and enter the room.

Another type of vent is the wet vent which is actually part of the main drainpipe which serves both the lavatory and the tub. This is called a wet vent. Before installing a wet vent make sure check with your local authorities for the code for your area.

In fact no matter what plumbing project you take on you should always know the code for your area that way you will be sure to install everything to meet code and you won't find yourself in a heap of trouble you don't need.