What Is a Plumbing Vent Pipe and Do I Need It?
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You’ve seen the little pipes sticking up on your roof, but do you know what they all do? Some of them are plumbing vent pipes, and yes, you do need them. Unfortunately, because they’re on the roof and out of the way, problems can occur that you might not see until it’s too late.
The plumbing vent pipe works alongside your plumbing drain pipes, but instead of carrying water, it regulates airflow in your plumbing system, which allows the water and waste to easily flow through the system. When the vent gets clogged or disconnected, that can create a vacuum in the drain pipes which allows slow or no drainage. The other function of the plumbing vent pipe is to remove sewer gas. Otherwise, sewer gas can build up in your home, which is not only smelly but dangerous.
Here are a few plumbing vent pipe home inspection finds:
Renovation Oopsy
Say you’ve decided to move or expand a bathroom and you’ve relocated the toilet. During the renovation, the plumbing vent pipe would be cut off so the toilet could be moved. A new plumbing vent pipe would then be installed at the new location. Then, you’d need to remember to go back and seal up the old vent. Which is what didn’t happen here. So right now they basically have a hole in the roof that’s just leaking into the attic every time it rains.
Getting Crafty With The Shingles
House flippers will sometimes opt for a quick fix rather than a correct fix in order to get the job done. We’ve also discussed before that you don’t have to be licensed to be a flipper, so the person doing the work isn’t necessarily an expert, which is certainly the case with this job. In the previous example, they had neglected to go back and seal the abandoned plumbing vent pipe. In this case, rather than sealing it properly, they cut out a pretty little circle of shingle material and covered the hole. I guess we’re making progress?
Seems Like A Handy Spot To Hang Stuff
You don’t have to be an electrician (or a plumber) to know this is a bad idea. You can even see a scorch mark on the cord. I’m guessing this was for Christmas lights? And this guy thought, “I’ll just hang my outlet on this handy thing poking out of the roof here.”
So much to unpack with this picture. First of all, lightning! Second, the screws going into the pipe and into the back of the outlet will allow moisture into the outlet — water + electricity = bad. The outlet is technically an outdoor outlet, but the cord is not. I could say more, but, referring back to the crafty circle of shingles earlier, what in the Etsy heck is going on with the tiny shingle rectangles on the pipe boot?? Y’all.
If you are doing a renovation, or buying a home with recent renovations, make sure the work is done by licensed professionals so you avoid mistakes and oversights like these, and have a home inspector check the work, especially with major renovations. If you have questions about your plumbing vent pipes, call a licensed plumber. Need a recommendation? Ask your Realtor or your home inspector — we work with them all the time and will know a reliable professional in your area.
