Why You Should Clean Your Sewer Vent Pipe

When you think about your sewer system, you are usually only concerned with your main sewer line. However, you should also be paying attention to your sewer vent pipe. Whether it’s your home or business, the sewer vent pipe plays an important role in your plumbing system. When problems develop with your plumbing, cleaning the sewer vent pipe may be an easy solution. If you’re wondering what the sewer vent pipe actually is, the signs that indicate it needs to be cleaned, and how it can be cleaned, Boss Plumbing has all the answers to your questions.

What is a Plumbing Vent?

While your drain pipes remove wastewater from your home or business, the sewer vent pipe removes harmful gases from your pipes, preventing gas and odor buildup in your building.

In most plumbing systems, the sewer vent pipe will run vertically and attach to the drain line. From there, it will run horizontally to the roof, where the gases are then released.

The pipe leading to your roof is known as the vent stack, which diverts gases away from your home and maintains proper atmospheric pressure. To ensure wastewater is properly eliminated from your home or business, the drainage and vent pipes must work together.

How to Tell if Your Plumbing Vent is Clogged

If your sewer vent pipe is clogged, there are some signs you’ll begin to notice in pretty short order. The most common is a strong sewage smell within your home or business, which usually indicates a clog and that the gases are not being vented correctly.

Other signs your sewer gas vent pipe is probably clogged include gurgling toilets or drains, drains that are sluggish in letting the water drain out, and weak water pressure when flushing your toilet. In the case of gurgling or sluggish drains, it all comes down to air pressure not being properly regulated. As a result, the air gets trapped within your plumbing system and goes for the nearest exit, often a sink or toilet.

How Do You Clear an Obstructed Vent Line?

When a sewer vent pipe gets clogged, it is due to numerous reasons. These can include debris such as leaves or twigs finding their way into the pipe, small animals such as birds or mice getting trapped inside the vent line, and many other reasons.

To properly clean a clogged sewer vent pipe and vent line, it’s usually best if you contact an experienced and licensed plumber. Otherwise, you may create more problems than you already have with the existing clog. After examining the situation, a plumber will often use an auger to break through the blockage and get the vent system working at peak efficiency once again.

Is Cleaning a Clogged Sewer Vent Pipe Really Important?

While it may sound like a clogged vent pipe is not all that important, our team here at Boss Plumbing knows better. To begin with, the longer you wait to have this problem taken care of, the more likely additional problems will develop within your plumbing system, leading to costly repairs. Also, the buildup of methane gas can lead to you and others getting sick.

If you suspect your sewer vent pipe is clogged, don’t ignore the problem. Instead, contact us here at Boss Plumbing and let our pros handle the job.