Do you want to Clean Your Own Plumbing Vent? This comprehensive guide to cleaning your vent shows you how we’ve got your back.
One of your system’s most important parts is your plumbing vent. But did you know that a clogged plumbing vent can cause drainage issues in your home?
Given their location, many homeowners believe that plumbers can only clean. The good news, though, is that you can try to unclog it. We will also demonstrate how in the sections that follow.
Do you have a plumbing vent that is blocked?
It may be challenging to visually inspect plumbing vents for blockages due to the fact that they run vertically along the outer wall all the way up to the roof. Because of this, most homeowners rely on signs inside their homes, such as the sink or bathtub draining water slowly or not at all. Additionally, a blockage in the plumbing vent can result in gurgling noises in the drains.
When the plumbing vent becomes clogged, negative pressure builds up inside, affecting your home’s water pressure and flow. As a result, your home’s water supply might be frequently interrupted, or it might drain slowly or not at all. Aside from that, toxic odors can fill your home when a vent is blocked.
Even though these issues may not always appear to be serious, neglecting them can result in the malfunction of the entire plumbing system. For instance, if you neglect to clean the pipes, they will always contribute to significant sediment buildup. In turn, this can lead to leaks and full-scale pipe bursts, which can damage your home and cost thousands of dollars to fix.
How can the plumbing duct be cleaned?
Before we show you how to clean the plumbing vent successfully, let us remind you that not all home drain clogs are caused by a clog in the vent pipe. As a result, if there is standing water or slow drainage, you should try cleaning the drains. If that doesn’t work, pick up the following tools and clean the vent:
STEP 1: Ladder, preferably telescoping, adjustable nozzle garden hose, rope, eye hooks, screwdriver, flashlight, plumbing auger, and fanny pack (optional to carry the screwdriver, rope, and eye hooks) The first and most crucial step is to properly set up the ladder so that you can safely access the plumbing vent. To accomplish this, check to see that the ladder’s feet are level and that the top extends a few inches beyond the roof line.
To ensure that the ladder doesn’t move around, we strongly suggest strengthening its position—even if it has rubberized feet. Take a rope and tie the ladder’s lower end—near the feet—to the nearest porch column or ground-mounted eye hooks.
Now, climb up the ladder, insert a few hook eyes into the roof fascia, and tie the ladder’s top to the hooks to keep it secure. To remove the lid from your plumbing vent, bring the screwdriver along. Don’t forget the garden hose, either.
STEP 2: Before starting the garden hose, open the lid and visually inspect the vent. You can get a better view by using a flashlight, which will help you direct the adjustable nozzle in the right direction.
STEP 3: Select the highest setting on the nozzle and request that an individual turn on the hose’s connection to the faucet. To remove the debris, direct the water jet inside the vent. Keep doing this until there are no more obvious clogs.
These three steps can clear most plumbing vent problems, and you can close the vent by screwing the lid back on. However, if the clog is severe, water may fill the pipe and escape through the opening. If you observe the same thing, you need to take another step.
STEP 4: Use a plumbing plunger that is 10 or 20 feet long and turn off the hose’s water supply (optional). Direct the cable until you reach the obstruction by inserting its head into the pipe. To force the cable through the obstruction, crank the handle when you encounter resistance. If the water begins to drain, the clog has been successfully removed.
To remove the cable and possibly some debris, crank the handle in the opposite direction. Wash the vent and turn on the water supply to make sure it doesn’t back up again. If so, proceed to the next step a few more times.
Close the lid and rinse the vent one last time to get rid of any debris. If you look inside the house at the pipes, there shouldn’t be any more obstructions or slow drainage.
What can you do to stop your plumbing duct from locking?
1. Observe the activities of the majority of birds on your roof during the spring as they build their nests in plumbing vents. You can clear the vent by removing their nest if they haven’t laid any eggs yet.
2. In the fall, clean the roof to remove leaves, twigs, and other debris. Otherwise, they might make their way to the vent during snowmelt or when rainwater falls on the surface.
3. Since older plumbing vents are typically more prone to blockages, it might be a good idea to switch to newer ones. Most of the time, these fixtures have caps and other features to prevent clogs.
However, before we leave, here are some expert advice. First, protect your eyes and hands from the plumbing vent’s debris by wearing work gloves. In a similar vein, the grip your shoes provide should be sufficient to enable you to stand securely on the roof and ladder steps.
Last but not least, if doing the cleaning yourself doesn’t solve the problem or you don’t feel confident doing it, you might want to hire a professional. At J.O. Plumbing, we offer drain and plumbing vent solutions in Melbourne that are quick and affordable. Give us a call to find out how we can assist you!
