How is a toilet vented

You'll hear horrible gurgling sounds when you flush the toilet. The vent is a pipe that connects horizontal drain lines to the exterior air above. As waste moves through the line, the air is drawn in through the vent for smoother passage. It's typically recommended that you go with a 2" PVC pipe for the vent. This is according to the uniform plumbing code UPC. It may not be enough, depending on how many fixtures you are trying to run off the vent.

You should check with local building code requirements to be on the safe side. Take note that the international plumbing code recommends just 1. According to the UPC, the distance between your trap and the vent should be no more than 6 feet. In other words, for the vent to work properly, it needs to feed into the drain line within 6 feet of the trapways that connect to it.

There are many different ways to vent your fixtures, and you're going to want to cater to the factors present in your bathroom. The most common configuration is to feed 2" PVC down from the ceiling within the wall behind the toilet.

She also enjoys writing business and finance, food and drink and pet-related articles. Her education includes marketing and a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Kansas. By Glenda Taylor. Related Articles. References Ask the Builder: Rough-in Plumbing. If your home is less than 30 years old, the plumbing system is probably vented, but if the bathroom sink is more than 10 feet away from the toilet, the distance between the two fixtures might be too great for the sink vent to prevent commode air locks.

Other issues contributing to slow flushing problems include the use of a water-saver commode or a blocked vent pipe. We left that mistake in there with the correction to illustrate how common of a mistake this can be.

The combo connects to a short run of DWV pipe which connects to a 3" x 3" x 3" wye with a cleanout cap sealing the open end. The discharge end of the wye connects to the building drain. Through the floor, the toilet connects to the flange and to 3" DWV, which then connects hopefully to a long sweep You can do a wye with a cleanout cap sealing the open end.

We recommend the long sweep 90 because it allows gravity to do a little more of its magic. The 90 connects to a run of 3" DWV that connects to a 3" x 3" x 2" wye. The 2-inch side of the wye connects to the vent mainline by way of a 2" street Another common configuration you'll come across is a toilet that drains straight down through the floor.

In this case, you would run the 2" vent pipe all the way down to the floor, then with a 45 street elbow , direct it towards the drainpipe where it connects through a 3" x 3" x 2" wye. You can go with any number of configurations. Use these examples as inspiration for determining the best solution for your space. Good luck with your project, and if you need more specific help, reach out to us. Now that you know how to replace a toilet handle remember, you can save big on all the toilet parts and plumbing tools for this project at PlumbersStock.

As a result, there will be neither bad smell nor strange noises coming out of sewer pipes. Moreover, you will not have problems with clogged drains and slow drainage of wastewater.

Therefore, venting the pipes is necessary and obligated by building laws. Most houses have these pipes in the roof, far from windows and household ventilation.

Since these pipes penetrate your roof, you will need to mend leaky roofs and ruined ceilings sooner or later. Luckily, there are a few more elegant solutions. Instead of thinking about massive construction projects, you can use an Air Admittance Valve, well-known as a cheater vent. In many situations, it is impossible to install standard venting for various reasons, and the installation of Air Admittance Valves can solve that problem. It is a simple mechanism that replaces classical venting pipe systems.

Atmospheric pressure goes through the valve and has the same effect as in the classical venting. Actually, this system is not a rare solution in Europe and many other parts of the world. Several famous manufacturers make these systems on the American soil, and the majority of local hardware and plumbing shops sell them.

The plumbers install Air Admittance Valves regularly, and there are no legal actions against installing them so far. If you are not sure what to do, you can always check with local plumbing authorities and associations. They will tell you if it is legal to install this system in the region where you live. Air Admittance Valve AAV allows the air to enter the drain system and prevents bad smells from coming out at the same time.

It is possible because these valves react to pressure in the drainage system. If the lower atmospheric pressure appears in the drainage system, the seal in the valve will automatically open and lift.

As a result, the fresh air will come in and help to equalize the pressure. After equalizing it, the sealing is automatically closed thanks to the gravity pulling it back to its position. When the seal in the valve closes, it prevents bad odors from escaping the sewer system. It will stay closed as long as the pressure in the drainage pipes is positive.

Air Admittance Valves come in different sizes, materials, and colors. They are simple assembly valves with a small mechanism on the top, and their design depends on capacity and the manufacturer.