A plumbing vent is a specially designed fitting that plays a key role in drainage/plumbing systems.
There are two main things that plumbing vents do: equalise air pressure/allow air into the system and remove the foul-smelling odours known as sewer gases.
Air is required inside the drainage system so that fixtures drain efficiently and toilets flush effectively. Without plumbing vents, you may end up with so-called ‘negative air pressure’ which can result in slow draining sinks and feeble flushes. Plumbing vents equalise the air pressure which encourages water to flow freely and also helps to prevent siphonage.
As we all know, the smell of sewage is rather unpleasant! Plumbing vents are an effective way of removing these odours from the drainage system.
Most fixtures in a property will have a P-trap/drain trap under their drain opening. These traps prevent clogging and also help keep sewer gases out of the system.
Need a CCTV drain survey in Northampton?
If you have been having problems with your drains, you may want to consider a CCTV drain survey. Specialist firms are available that can offer a CCTV drain survey Northampton and the surrounding areas, several of which also have useful online resources for you to read – such as the examples seen here: www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/drainage-services-cctv-surveys-midlands/cctv-drain-surveys/cctv-drain-surveys-northampton/.
Types of Vents
A vent stack is perhaps the most commonly found type in residential properties. This is essentially a pipe that runs vertically and (usually) exits through the roof. This is able to vent multiple fixtures across multiple levels. These tend to be around 10cm in diameter.
An individual vent is a pipe that is attached to a specific fixture such as a toilet or sink. This can either exit unilaterally through the roof or connect with the main vent stack. These pipes are smaller than vent stack pipes.
Other types of vents include Air Admittance Valves (AAVs), branch vents, common vents, waste stack vents, wet vents, and circuit vents.