What Is the Purpose of a Plumbing Venting System?

As a homeowner, you know how messy things in your home would get without a working plumbing system. You may have even dabbled in plumbing yourself by fixing a running toilet and unclogging a drain. One of the lesser known but important aspects of the average home’s plumbing system is the plumbing vent. A plumbing venting system plays a vital role in maintaining your plumbing system's efficiency and preventing potential issues.

The purpose of a plumbing venting system in a building's plumbing infrastructure is to allow air pressure from pipes to escape from the plumbing system. This ensures harmful sewer gases don’t build up in the pipes and make it difficult for water to move through them.

If your plumbing venting system malfunctions, it can lead to a range of problems within your home's plumbing.

What Is a Plumbing Vent?

A plumbing vent runs from a plumbing fixture up through the roof of a home. Plumbing vents let sewer gas go out through the roof and allow the atmospheric pressure in the plumbing system to remain the same. This prevents the p-traps (the bend in a pipe containing water) from going dry, which keeps the sewer gas smell from entering your home through sinks and toilets.

If you’ve ever had problems with sewer smell in your home, it may have been due to a leaky, clogged up or broken plumbing vent.

How Many Plumbing Vents Are There in a Home?

The number of plumbing vents in a home can vary depending on the size and layout of the house, as well as the local building codes and plumbing design. In a typical residential home, you can expect to find several plumbing vents strategically placed throughout the structure.

Usually, there is at least one main plumbing vent stack that extends vertically through the roof of the house. This main vent stack connects to all the individual branch vents within the plumbing system. Each branch vent serves a specific group of fixtures, such as toilets, sinks, showers and bathtubs. In a standard home, you may have multiple branch vents connected to the main vent stack.

Is Sewer Gas Dangerous?

Apart from having a foul and nauseating odor, sewer gas can be dangerous to both your health and safety.

Inhaling sewer gas for prolonged periods of time can lead to health issues. Methane, a major component of sewer gas, is flammable and can displace oxygen in enclosed spaces, potentially leading to suffocation. Hydrogen sulfide, another component of sewer gas, is highly toxic and can cause symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea and even loss of consciousness in high concentrations.

This is why having a working plumbing venting system isn’t a luxury but an absolute necessity to ensure sewer gases are safely vented to the outdoors.

Symptoms of Malfunctioning Plumbing Vents

• Slow Drainage: If you notice that water is draining slowly from sinks, showers or toilets, it could be a sign of a venting issue. Insufficient venting can create a vacuum effect in the pipes, impeding the flow of water.
• Gurgling Sounds: Gurgling or bubbling sounds coming from your plumbing fixtures, especially after flushing a toilet or draining a sink, may suggest that air is not properly venting through the system.
• Unpleasant Odors: One of the most noticeable signs of a plumbing vent problem is the presence of foul sewer gas odors in your home. If you consistently detect a strong, unpleasant smell of sewage, it indicates that sewer gases are not venting as they should and are escaping into your living spaces.
• Multiple Fixture Problems: When more than one plumbing fixture in your home is affected by slow drainage or gurgling, it often indicates a venting issue within the main plumbing stack or branch vents.
• Bubbles in Toilet Bowl: If you see bubbles rising in the toilet bowl when you run water in a nearby sink or tub, this is a clear indication that air is not venting correctly through the plumbing system.
• Water Backups: Malfunctioning plumbing vents can lead to sewer backups in extreme cases. This means sewage can potentially back up into your fixtures, like sinks or bathtubs, which is a severe and unsanitary issue.
• Standing Water in Drain Traps: You may find that drain traps, such as those under sinks, dry out quickly due to improper venting. This can allow sewer gases to easily enter your home.

Fix and Maintain Your Arlington Home’s Plumbing Vents with Plumbing Services from Tom’s Mechanical

Keeping your plumbing vents in good condition is essential to your home’s plumbing system working properly. If you notice any signs indicating your plumbing vents need repair or replacement, be sure to contact Tom’s Mechanical, Inc. for help.

Our certified plumbers will resolve the issue promptly and effectively, ensuring toxic waste gases stay out of your home. To schedule your plumbing service, call us today at (817) 277-4493.