How to Clear a Clogged Plumbing Vent

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How to Clear a Clogged Plumbing Vent | This Old House

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9 жыл бұрын

This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey employs his detective skills to find and clear a stubborn clog. (See below for tools.)
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Richard locates the clog by inserting a camera-snake down the stack vent from the roof. To clear the clog, Richard inserts a running garden hose down the vent to flush it out.
Tools for Clearing a Clogged Plumbing Vent
- inspection camera [amzn.to/2ISQT0o]; can be rented for $75 to $100 a day
- electrician's probe [amzn.to/2RxarM2]
- garden hose [amzn.to/2XoJNKB]
The "SeeSnake" camera and "Navitrack" locator are professional plumbing tools and are manufactured by: RIDGID/Ridge Tool Co. [www.ridgid.com/us/en/video-in...]
The stack vent cap was manufactured by Crown Ventguards [www.crownventguard.com/]
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How to Clear a Clogged Plumbing Vent | This Old House
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Пікірлер: 470

@SteveSapienza 6 жыл бұрын

This video just save me $500 or more! Our second floor toilet and bathtub were backed up and gurgling air bubbles. I called a local plumber company they cam out and snaked the tub line, but the problem persisted. I called the plumbing company for a do-over and they said they would have to charge me $500 to put a snake camera down the pipes and possibly more to remove the clog. After I went through the roof at their prices, I went to the roof with a $20 hand snake and dropped it down the vent stack until I hit the clog . Five minutes of cranking on the clog and I heard the sweet sound of rushing water. I’m so thankful I saw this video.

@aaronbaraiya3692 Жыл бұрын

how is everything now?

@MilkyWayGalaxyy 4 ай бұрын

How Long are those snakes

@usaman7358 9 күн бұрын

@@MilkyWayGalaxyy Generally speaking, the black ones are longer than the white ones.

@russellmoore8187 5 жыл бұрын

Ted popping out the window was an unexpected delight

@TheBoxFort759 4 жыл бұрын

😆

@TheyForcedMyHandLE 2 жыл бұрын

I read "pooping" :O

@fqeng79 2 жыл бұрын

Iceing on the Cake

@s.elizabeths 2 ай бұрын

Wild! Reminds me of a 70s folk tune

@sparkyobrian6417 3 жыл бұрын

electrician " Aaaah naa, you can go ahead and just keep that ....."

@joewell3074 5 жыл бұрын

THE DUDE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN A DUMP. AND SHOCKED RICHARD WATCHING POO THRU HIS CAMERA..LOL

@tlnn6598 4 жыл бұрын

@joe - Two thumbs WAY UP for that comment!!!

@farerse 4 жыл бұрын

I don't think he would be shocked, he's been a plumber for years

@c50ge 4 жыл бұрын

Or a rubber snake

@KL-ps6pp 4 жыл бұрын

Good one , Joe

@gatorr4life 4 жыл бұрын

Lmao

@johnromolo 2 жыл бұрын

Just got off my roof. I sent a snake down my vent and it came back with crap all over. Not quite unclogged yet. Still got more work to do. I'm gonna give the garden hose a try. Thanks for sharing.

@Da34Box 9 жыл бұрын

This is like a colonoscopy for your house.

@ooo-vk6jr 9 жыл бұрын

***** Ear wax,

@MimiDidi121 8 жыл бұрын

I think you mean colonics, but, I get your drift lol

@KeithsTVHD1 7 жыл бұрын

true lol

@PurveyorOfCuriosities 7 жыл бұрын

It's actually both. The colonoscopy is the video examination, the water flush is the colonic.

@MissPrissy6688 3 жыл бұрын

🤢😂🤣🤣😂🤢

@Tom-ej8bb 6 жыл бұрын

Cool Beans! I did that years ago on my house. The flow going out of the house was not plugged but the toilets were gurgling sometimes. Figured it had to be a venting issue and it was. Tks You guys help so many people TYVM! We all lost our Great Handyman Glenn Haege! Miss You Glenn you helped so many too! One of you guys ought to consider taking what he started and keep it going!!

@elmcityvintage 7 жыл бұрын

i just unclogged mine with a shop vac and extension. would not have thought about a clogged vent tube before watching this video. thank you. xoxo

@Allbbrz 8 жыл бұрын

First part's done. The second would be to install a vent cap to prevent more leaves from coming in again....

@yoshimra 8 жыл бұрын

Vent caps disrupt the flow of air to vacuum out the fumes. #SmellyHouse

@kellyw9567 8 жыл бұрын

Yoshimra, do you have any data to back this up? If it doesn't seal the vent, and the shield (ie. umbrella cap) is elevated enough to have the same open surface area as the pipe (Pi * r^2), I don't see how a cone hat would cause an obstruction to gas flow. For a 3" pipe the open surface area is about 7.4 sq ". the open surface area is Pi * d * h. without supports this solves to half the pipe ID. raising the same additional height as the support width would accommodate their blockage. eg. raise another 3/4 " if you have (3) 3/4" supports. For a 3" sch 40 this would be about 2 &1/4" above the pipe to the bottom of the vent cap. any cross wind would still allow some Bernoulli effect to draw fumes out.

@yoshimra 8 жыл бұрын

Yes, that is right.

@sku32956 6 жыл бұрын

put a 90 on it

@bounchofbeaners 6 жыл бұрын

stuff can still get in... i say fuck it... put a big ol 4 inch double 90 on it... lolol... half a p trap..XD

@gnurxer 6 жыл бұрын

Excellent presentation! Gives me a much better idea of what's going on down the vent pipe.

@arminius301 2 жыл бұрын

always good to keep a couple pairs of latex gloves around! Also might tie a thin rope to the end of the probe stick just in case it slips out of your hands and falls into the stack haha. btw why don't vent stack have rain covers on them, which should prevent leaves and pine needles from falling in there and causing a clog?

@edwardc4453 Жыл бұрын

they should re-do this episode and yeah that has to be done.

@antennawilde 10 ай бұрын

Duct tape a screen around it

@joycedudzinski9415 8 жыл бұрын

My vent line developed a crack on the straight pipe above the bathroom ceiling and when it rained...water seeped through on the plaster ceiling. I sealed that crack but I also placed a raised vent cap on my exterior pipe where there is still air circulation but no rain or debris coming in.

@allegory7638 8 жыл бұрын

Can't wait till the kids drink out of the water hose, LOL.

@parallelburrito 7 жыл бұрын

Now it all makes sense why all these hard ace wanna bes are acting like it was some kinda life or death experience to drink from a water hose when they were kids. They must have known where their dads were using the hose.

@KeithsTVHD1 7 жыл бұрын

lmfao

@FlemNmzzzz 7 жыл бұрын

lmao!

@stephensnell1379 6 жыл бұрын

DON'T BE SP FOUL AND DISGUSTING!

@Engineer9736 6 жыл бұрын

Slick Wally tell that to children, not to Al Legory, you idiot

@mmacmobile 7 ай бұрын

I was noticing a slight lowering of the water level in one of two toilet bowls, so I found this video and it made perfect sense. My vent pipe looked like this one and with my snake I cleaned it up and could then see the toilet water flowing when flushed. Thank you guys.

@JC-lz2ud 6 жыл бұрын

found this vid today as we were fighting with our rooftop stand pipe/plumbing vent. kitchen sink just would not drain. bathroom sink draining slow. used flashlight to see if there was standing water at the bottom of the pipe, and there was. did not have the other tools and could not afford them. did not have a piece of wood long enough to poke down the hole. however we did have a 2x2x8 piece of scrap lumber which was not long enough. drilled a hole thru one end and threaded a long piece of cheap paracord thru the hole. dropped it down the vent a few times and it broke up the clog! this was cheap and easy.

@oOBCKushOo 5 жыл бұрын

That woulda sucked if u dropped the 8ft piece down lol

@HeadingForTomorrow 4 жыл бұрын

@@oOBCKushOo My nightmare. Dropping a tool or the clog just breaking up and dropping down as a big clump blocking the whole system.... UGHHH I am heading up to the roof tomorrow, my bath tub just will not drain. No matter what chemical I use, does not want to drain, I strongly suspect it's vent problem.

@HeadingForTomorrow 4 жыл бұрын

That's awesome, I have same problem, tub just won't drain, sometimes it would drain perfectly but after a while it would stop draining. I am heading up there tomorrow and sticking a long pole down the vent, little worried if it would just break apart or something and clog the system, wondering if I should just dump some drain opener from top? I have no water up there, no hose 100ft long to wash it away though.

@denverdanoreno 5 жыл бұрын

I like this plumber, smart. Now that I have jetter hose experience that would be my next step in the clean-out.

@BrewskiLee 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent video! This gave me the confidence to climb up and try myself. First I used a snake as mentioned in another video, and only came up with spiderwebs and dry tree debris. Then I hit it with a hose for 60 seconds, while my kids watched for leaks through an access panel in the basement. I immediately started to smell the same stench that was permeating my basement bathroom shoot out the vent pipe - that was all it took for me! PS please use safety ropes if you are on the 30ft side of the house like these guys.

@josephnorcalusa1710 6 жыл бұрын

helpful information, thank you for sharing

@rexiiforsure9558 6 жыл бұрын

Once I was vacationing near a popular lake and a noticed a strong sewer smell early in the morning it was very hot and humid so I bet that adds to it!

@mrclean146 2 жыл бұрын

I believe this may be my problem. Love that camera action.

@macmorgan6685 6 жыл бұрын

When we first moved into our house 25 years ago, the bathroom sink wouldn’t drain. After looking into the sink trap, the drain pipe, and not finding anything, I went up on the roof. Using a snake, I pulled up 5 clumps of hair which solved the problem!

@cattnipp 11 ай бұрын

25 years ago? Don’t you have anything new to say after 25 years?

@BillyDiamond 7 жыл бұрын

thank you so much!!!! You saved me hundreds of dollars in getting a plumber out to the house. I first tried a new toilet and when that wasn't the culprit I was at a loss, especially since the lines (tub, toilet, sink) all seemed to be totally clear. Unclogging a ventilation pipe and having the right air flow made all the difference in the world. I can't thank you enough for this help video.

@theguynamedtom 7 жыл бұрын

Billy, what were you experiencing that led you to this video? I have a toilet that is flowing very slowly and a result is not clearing the bowl. I'm hoping you were dealing with something similar and that this video might be the answer that I'm looking for.

@heathro7942 6 жыл бұрын

how did you know you had a clog in the first place?

@gurbeerathwal9406 6 жыл бұрын

Why would you buy a new toilet before anything else

@mr.bigbrownbass9089 6 жыл бұрын

gurbeer athwal because a hundred dollar toilet is cheaper then a $1000 plumber... Lol...

@lexiemaep7930 5 жыл бұрын

Slow house draining. All sinks and toilets drain slow

@charliesierra6919 5 жыл бұрын

Great helpful vid!

@craigwilding1551 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip to check the vent stack, turns out my vent stack was blocked by ice, so I just poured some warm water on the ice and it solved the problem. Cheers.

@mcfrancoable 7 жыл бұрын

Good Video thank you for sharing

@TENTHIRTYONE Жыл бұрын

“I could see all the way to the basement”. Meanwhile, my cast iron vent stack would like you to meet his 3 90’s 😂

@vince6829 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing

@VamooseRooter1 2 жыл бұрын

Sir Richard! Bless your soul! The plumbing Gods have blessed you

@hajerm Жыл бұрын

ah man! this is beautiful ! Thank you for posting... so in the storm last week, the cover blew off one of my vent stacks, and i have been worrying that i need to get up on my roof and repair it. But i see several articles online that say the vents don't have to be covered... what's your opinion on that?

@erixgar4117 6 жыл бұрын

Hey nice video! Could you show me how to do a shower drain into the basement? I" use a shower pen.

@usaman7358 9 күн бұрын

Thank you. Excellent!

@humblewarrior6585 6 жыл бұрын

Cool plumbing camera !!!

@geojor 9 жыл бұрын

great, thanks...

@mississippiapple1078 Жыл бұрын

RICHARD IS THE BEST!

@joeystapleton1456 5 жыл бұрын

If it's an older house vent pipe may b smaller. Had very good results using soft Peter hooked to water hose.Supplies a lot of pressure and usually will break free any clogs.

@sunshynff 5 жыл бұрын

What's soft peter? I have a home built in the late 50s, single story ranch, with basement, about 1000sq ft. I have a main 4" stack/vent that services everything in the house except the kitchen sink, which has a separate vent stack that is I believe is 1-3/4", maybe 2". The 1-1/2" metal pipe that is connected to all brand new pvc piping under the double sink, runs about 5-7ft behind wall to this smaller vent stack. I have snaked several times with hardware store bought auger and then rented a 1/2" auger, both times going under sink straight into wall pipe. I thought I had it, but water kept backing up, (btw, nothing else in the house including basement floor drain backing up) After using a camera, found out the clog isn't in the drain line right off the sink, it's when it drops down the vent, right at (basement) floor level as it turns horizontal to go meet the main stack. There is a clean out in the basement for that vent, but that part of basement is finished, and it is dry walled over, so I would prefer to try hitting from the roof first, before ripping down drywall. I've heard a few good things about these hose bladders, and I like what I saw in this video. So what does the hook you mentioned do? Also, do you think giving the floor drain in the basement a good go with the plunger might loosen up the clog from the opposite side, or would the drain trap prevent good pressure? Apparently it's too far away from the kitchen sink for the plunger to work from there. Thanks for any help!

@SparkyIggy 2 жыл бұрын

Hi, I have been watching your videos because we recently notice sewer smells from the fan ventilation (ceiling area) in one of the bathrooms. The attic is right above the ceiling with vent pipes. What are the common/possible causes for the problems? Thank you very much!

@aaronbaraiya3692 Жыл бұрын

you ever find out?

@sungleong 7 жыл бұрын

my house keep making the water dripping sound, from second floor to basement. you think it has to do with the plumbing vent?? the sound is driving me crazy, I couldn't sleep at night? any idea? can't find any water mark.

@mrapma 2 жыл бұрын

How do you remove metal mushroom style cap from outdoor vent/ clean out access in yard. Screw is frozen. I sprayef rust loosener. Turn clockwise or counter clockwise?

@DOLRED 2 жыл бұрын

In about 1986 helped a friend on a one story walk on roof. The immediate issue being able to haul these snakes up to the roof. They are heavy pieces of equipment and you need two healthy guys to do this job. One slip up and someone gets hurt. Next is the idea the electrical connection is safe by using a Ground Fault connection. In the case here, it turned out the sewer line under the ground was broken. The snake temporarily cleared the blockage allowing water to go down. They had to dig up the line and replace it. It was notorious "Orangeburg" pipe of the 1950s known for being defective. There were street patches up and down the streets of this 1950s town!!! It was so bad, the town began subsidizing some of the cost !!! Come on Rich, should mention these!!

@Luismnegrito 7 жыл бұрын

My kitchen sink doesn't drain water all the way, unless the garbage disposal get turn on and even when it's turn off some water is still visible ? We tried all sorts liquids but still no luck. Also when we turn the garbage disposal on we can hear water sounds from the bathroom sink that is next to the kitchen. Any suggestion?

@heroknaderi 4 жыл бұрын

Wow great find 🤩

@ptoughneigh8671 3 жыл бұрын

thanks

@Bardesigners 3 жыл бұрын

Would a blockage such as this cause a condensation problem? I installed a roof vent cap a couple of years ago and while recently remodeling my bathroom, I noticed a small amount of water behind my medicine cabinet. I thought it might be condensation from inadequate attic insulation (it’s now early winter). Every day there’s a small amount of water inside my medicine cabinet.

@benredding7080 Жыл бұрын

Probably caused by steam/humidity inside the bathroom condensing on the inside walls of the cabinet.

@JustJerryPodcast 2 жыл бұрын

Is it possible to do a perma liner sleeve through roof vent?

@Mike-hc5in 7 жыл бұрын

What was the problem that led you to check vent? And after cleaning how do you stop from this happening again? Too many unknown in this video

@jdrs4214 5 жыл бұрын

Mike, problems like that lead to bad restroom or sewage odors, poor or slow drainage on sinks, and resistive toilet flushes; seemingly as if they were semi-clogged, or bubble up, instead of going down. A vent pipe allows atmospheric pressure and gravity, to force waste into the city sewers efficiently.

@JohnDoe-ld8nr 4 жыл бұрын

A toilet that's flushing a lot softer than it should be but other remedies like plunging and snaking the toilet do not resolve the issue. You stop it from happening again by installing a vent cap. It's similar to the things you see on top of chimneys.

@0blivioniox864 7 ай бұрын

Can you use a pressure washer to blast thru this? or does it run the risk of piercing a metal vent?

@vermontmike9800 2 ай бұрын

Besides gurgling water, are there any other symptoms? I get a sewer smell from time to time in my basement and I’m wondering if a clogged/blocked sewer stack vent could be the problem. I don’t have a basement floor drain, nor a sump pump. For reference, the sewer smell goes away when I run a hot water cycle with cleaning powder through my first level washer or bathtub.

@lasrael1746 Жыл бұрын

My bathroom sink was backing up. Toilet gurgles (and tub sometimes) when I flush the toilet. The vent pipe was plugged with chunks of rust from the cast iron piping used for the vent at the bottom in the basement where it 90's. It's been flaking off and enough fell to plug off the water to a very slow drain. The difficult part is whoever put this pipe in (assuming the 50's when this house was built) put the pipe in as 1 pieces and theres not enough clearance to remove the 90 degree fitting to clean out. A rubber couple was placed further down the line. I'm assuming previous home owner had the same issue. Removing that and reaming out with a wire helped once, but it aint getting it this time. Maybe the garden hose trick will work.

@sgt.zombie 8 ай бұрын

Do they have screens you can put over the pipe to keep leaves out?

@princessrevenge 2 жыл бұрын

What type of professional do I contact to do this? Plumber? Do plumbers go up on roofs?

@khoayeuha 5 жыл бұрын

Can a blocked soil stack have sewer smell back into the basement bathroom? Toilet flushes fine no blockage.

@ArcolaBridge 6 жыл бұрын

I live in Minnesota and my house was built in 1987. The main vent stack was installed as a 3 inch on the north side of the house where little to no sunlight ever gets during the winter months. It's completely froze over in -20 degree weather in. The septic smell is backing up into the house. The place in which the sewer vent is, is rather steep at an angle. I tried emptying a P-trap in the upstairs bathtub and running a hair dryer through the drain and it did he up that leg of vent pipe going to the main stack. But it did not melt the ice in it. Is there anyway I can deal with this without having to get up on the roof? I realize I will have to insulate the vent stack pipe as well.

@jhanlon1903 5 жыл бұрын

heat trace wire then insulate

@josephcastro3058 3 жыл бұрын

He’s running that see snake with no gloves on. Legend.

@redvsblueviewer 3 жыл бұрын

Finger lickin' good

@justayoutuber1906 Жыл бұрын

Just don't bite your fingernails

@lisahughes7053 7 жыл бұрын

Would this work if the tub was the slowly draining

@dawnbrock4261 7 жыл бұрын

with if the top pipe is to the side do it mean its not working

@zachikhothingo1 6 жыл бұрын

the plumbers snake is awesome.

@nationalbusinessreviews7379 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Rich :-) love you guys and This Old House

@VanillaGorilla502 2 жыл бұрын

I have a house built in the 60s, do these need a cap over the pipe?

@larrymoore6640 4 жыл бұрын

The biggest question is why didn't Richard after finding the problem 1) totally clean the vent pipe and 2) put the proper cap on the vent pipe to prevent any leaves or whatever from plugging the vent again.

@rogo43 6 жыл бұрын

I get a creaking noise every time I drain my sinks or shower and im positive this is the cause. Is it ok for me to just stick the hose down the vent pipe and let it rip? I don't have a snake with a camera available.

@kerpci 6 жыл бұрын

I have a home built in 1941 that has water that doesnt drain properly when my daughter takes long showers. I had a plumber in and he mentioned that it is a vent problem. When running water from the upstairs bathroom you can hear gurgling in the basement sink which will eventually start to overflow (after about 15 minutes). If you turn of the water and wait for it will eventually release and all the water will fun out rapidly. Could this be a symptom of a clogged vent?

@aegsxr750 5 жыл бұрын

did u ever get this fixed was the vent the issue?

@khloe38 2 жыл бұрын

Was this a vent issue?

@eternalfirenip 5 жыл бұрын

Was hoping Ted dropped a fresh one for that last flush. "Hey look at that, water and.... Wait, wtf? TED!!"

@ptoughneigh8671 3 жыл бұрын

Classic Ted move right there

@bradbrownsen2872 3 жыл бұрын

I have an old house but it has no vent on the roof.Where else do I look for a vent?I have a pipe in the ground going to my septic tank but its been snaked and my toilet still doesnt flush.its getting no air.I even added Oatey Sure Vent.It still won't flush.I have to keep pouring bucket of water

@constantinbulucea8881 Жыл бұрын

This is great! I wonder why builders do not provide a visiting Y access (properly capped) from the attic… Getting on the roof is a very dangerous adventure!

@drewjames8594 Жыл бұрын

Because that would cost money and builders are looking for any way to cut cost. A lot of production builders won't even install a folding ladder for your attic access; just cut a scuttle hole and throw a piece of drywall in it..

@hedgefund9892 2 жыл бұрын

Great Job. One thing only. Maybe descale that pipe to prevent further junk going down?

@zachbrown7843 5 жыл бұрын

thought he was haulin a big ol' lumpofshiz there at 1:57

@gettinrings 7 жыл бұрын

A small sewer jetter would have been nice for this job !!

@ptoughneigh8671 3 жыл бұрын

Nice

@PlayRightParent Жыл бұрын

Should there ever be some type of cap on top of it?

@adamguymon7096 5 жыл бұрын

0:35 doesn't this remind you of a Colonoscopy? A Light, Camera and a long tube?

@richardpasha9332 2 жыл бұрын

My bathroom and kitchen drains that feed into my main drain pipe from the east are backing up. But my other bathroom that feeds from west of the main drain is not backing up. I was initially thinking that my septic tank was full and needed to be dumped but could this be my issue instead? Weird that only one side of the house is backing up.

@luislandofficial 2 жыл бұрын

Currently dealing with this. My master bath and guest bath are backing up but my kitchen is fine I’ve tried almost every and nothing is working so I’m hoping this is the solution and gonna try and snake the vent on the roof. Days like this I wish I was still a renter 🤣 Hope ur issues r fixed.

@danamaxwell2542 2 жыл бұрын

@@luislandofficial Did it work? Was the vent the problem?

@gregs972-onlinestore2 3 жыл бұрын

Can I pour a bottle of Zep calcium and lime remover or liquid heat, or something like that down the vent pipe?

@mando074 2 жыл бұрын

That's the exact same question I have. Hopefully someone will reply and give an answer. I would think it would be ok if the pipe is PVC or something like that.

@patrickenglish9249 5 жыл бұрын

Vent line needs a hydrojet to main sewer house trap..just flushed all that garbage from the vertical stack to the horizontal run under the ground or basement floor.

@princessrevenge 2 жыл бұрын

Why was a clogged plumbing vent suspected in this case? What were the issues the home was having?

@beckyl9454 Жыл бұрын

When pipes are backing up and you snaked every possible area inside, it's good to check the vent pipe.

@thedreamstation Жыл бұрын

Can you use any type of liquid for this, instead of a snake?

@CardinalEgan 6 жыл бұрын

Looks good, but I would definitely invest in some gloves... Also, tie a line to that electrician's fish stick thing. If that goes down a long pipe, have fun "fishing" it out...

@san379 9 жыл бұрын

65 yrold plumbing pipe needs descaling

@ptoughneigh8671 3 жыл бұрын

richard, this isn't tinder!

@blaket81 4 жыл бұрын

I think this is what's causing my kitchen sink not to drain. I've taken the drain pipes under that sink apart and find no blockage. I've also snaked into the main pipe that goes into the wall under the sink and come up clean. But if this is the issue wouldn't every sink and toilet in the house be clogged because they all need the air coming from this? In my house it is JUST my kitchen sink that is clogged.

@pattycake5643 4 жыл бұрын

I wish someone could answer you question cuz I have the same problem.

@missonyxk9 4 жыл бұрын

Likely you have more than one vent pipe and if so, it could just be the kitchen's vent pipe.

@luislandofficial 2 жыл бұрын

U should have more than one vent I believe. One for ur kitchen sink which should be under it and another for ur bathroom which might be on the side of ur house or on the roof good luck

@HongNguyen-rz2uv 2 жыл бұрын

Great

@beavacuda 6 жыл бұрын

2:43 Richard at the peepshows back in the 70s

@ptoughneigh8671 3 жыл бұрын

2:43 me at the peepshows that richard does

@fitybux4664 Жыл бұрын

Time for that vent stack to get a hat.

@Shannon- Жыл бұрын

Does this only effect the toilet? Mine is slow flushing all of sudden and the back of the tank won't stop filling up. I'm scared. Don't have the $ for a plumber

@koolme12jk 5 ай бұрын

Are we able to rent the equipment at a local store

@normsgonz8539 4 жыл бұрын

Can that be the case for sewer gas in the home ? Also bubble sound when flushing?

@ptoughneigh8671 3 жыл бұрын

S-trap wrong, P-trap proper

@wompbozer3939 3 жыл бұрын

I probably would have used a shop vac. It wasn’t a good idea to flush the hard object on down the line considering it didn’t even make it down the straight vent stack.

@BudFuddlacker 2 жыл бұрын

How come those vents don’t have some sort of mesh screen/cover to prevent stuff from getting into them?

@johsiantorres8495 2 жыл бұрын

It can't have any restrictions just like a dryer no mesh on the outside

@Eddie-rf4tp 5 жыл бұрын

Lol is he fishing for tampons without gloves... I'm full hvac just to clean the traps ;)

@doloresm7396 5 жыл бұрын

Hazmat?

@sunnifreyer2759 8 жыл бұрын

How do you know when it's a vent problem versus something in pipe? I have kitchen sink bad clog (24-hour drain time when water is level with drain hole!) and now the utility room sink, which is directly parallel to the kitchen sink, has started draining slowly (about 1 hr to do the same drain of water as the kitchen.) Plunging seemed to shift something at one point but now both are as stated. Liquid Plummr is now in it for 9 hours and nothing has budged.

@MimiDidi121 8 жыл бұрын

I knew it was my issue cause you can hear the toilet gurgle all through the house. the drains drain slowly and if one drain is draining and you, say, flush the toilet it will nearly overflow, if not overflow! it's not getting the needed air to push the water out to allow air bubble to burb, for lack of a better word. It's a delicate ballance. I had my house reroofed. they frantically took off 5 (yes 5) layers of shingles wirh about 8 men on my 1100 square foot house. I started noticing it after that, but it got much worse during the summer. I couldn't afford the plummer at the time and as long as I only drained one drain at a time I was ok...until something else got in there...perhaps a squirrel? we're renting an auger this weekend. I'm praying it will work. I'm a 50somthing disabled woman in her 50s. I can't afford a catastrophic plumbing issue!! a $20 auger rental would be the miracle I need!!

@RodSalm 7 жыл бұрын

If the toilet or other sinks are making a gurgling or burping noise as they drain/flush they are sucking air from somewhere other than the venting system. Good indication it's a vent problem, not a drain problem. Yours sounds like a plugged drain further down the line, maybe in the main line.

@MimiDidi121 7 жыл бұрын

It was a plug...we couldn't clear it. We took the toilet off and used the rented auger thing. No go...we got a bigger bladder thing that blasts the clog on through and it came off first try! !! We had to call a plumber then! We had no clean out, and too much stuff under the house to see which way the line went to the street to dig up the line instead of paying a plumber $150 and hour to dig! My stepdad cut a new crawl space into the foundation near the sewer line under the house. Luckily, there was a clean out there and that big rubber balloon thing was within reach of a wire hanger!

@MimiDidi121 7 жыл бұрын

Rod Salm also, thanks for the info, even if it was months later! I'll know for next time!

@RodSalm 7 жыл бұрын

I had to hire a plumber recently to clean out the main drain as nothing I did was working. I learned a lot watching him, including on how to use that bladder thing and how to use a drill auger (patience and go slow). Next time I'll buy it and save myself $150. BUT my plug was clay in the pipe, which means there's a crack or broken bit under the poured concrete of the house. Not too eager to tackle that one this spring.

@3jacen 4 жыл бұрын

Who can I get to come out and do this for me? Would I call a plumber for this? Or a roofer, or someone else? PS love the show and would be tempted to do this, but I don't do heights

@paulannehardy3469 8 жыл бұрын

For small drains you can suck a clog back up a drain with a wet vac. This works wall on a lot of drains, make sure you cover any overflow vents to assure full vacuum. Hair clogs can be pulled back up a drain with a hooked peace of wire. On larger drain pipes a garden hose set on high spray can be inserted into and down a clean out access or roof vent. This will wash out a clog. If a rag is used to close off the entrance around the hose the pipe will pressurize pushing a clog out. Care must be taken not to over flow a toilet or flour drain using this trick.

@phactreerat 3 жыл бұрын

When you clear out the vent clog, will that debris cause your main drain to clog?

@doughnut1107 3 жыл бұрын

The main drain should be larger in diameter than the vent that is clogged.

@tstep522 3 жыл бұрын

Wouldn't there be value in cleaning that whole line out or would you be risking breaking the pipe?

@zedsdeadbaby 2 жыл бұрын

There would, but I guess he was hired to solve this specific problem and that's exactly what he did. No need to add more costs on top of it.

@toobigal 9 жыл бұрын

how about solving the problem with a vent cap after you clean it?

@gurbeerathwal9406 6 жыл бұрын

toobigal its code sometimes to not allow ut because ice can build on it

@grassroot011 5 жыл бұрын

Well why not a screen of some type to prevent animals, birds from getting down there. Also leaves and such? Wide enough to not allow snow to build up on them.

@JustinOhio 3 жыл бұрын

@@grassroot011 Ice and snow could (and most likely would) collect on the screen and create a blockage.

@0blivioniox864 7 ай бұрын

@@JustinOhio It would be a temporary blockage till it melts ... which wouldnt be long considering the warm air coming up. And ... how much worse could it be than a full blockage for months by leaves?

@ScottMiller-tu3gg 5 жыл бұрын

Wonder if he caught any brown trout with that fiberglass fishin` pole?

@emydesignforyou8633 8 жыл бұрын

hola tengo un problema en mi casa la compre nueva y no se va bien el agua ni de la taza ni de la banadera ustedes cren que sea por este mismo problema en el video mi casa es de 1967 ayudenme por favor

@DougCeleste 8 жыл бұрын

Si necesita alguna ayuda de estos hombres, pregunteles en ingles porque ellos no hablan espanol.

@joselatorre8140 6 жыл бұрын

Hi where can I locate my plumbing vent pipe

@doloresm7396 5 жыл бұрын

On your roof.

@tthoy7338 9 жыл бұрын

what is to prevent a critter from going down the pipe

@frankrizzo8175 7 жыл бұрын

Nothing! Absolutely nothing! We are doomed!

@TheAnzora81 7 жыл бұрын

Dude where the gloves at?

@EddyFlexy 7 жыл бұрын

Carlos Anzora I couldn't believe he didn't wear gloves.

@rafon. 7 жыл бұрын

Same place your balls are?! Nowhere to be found.

@erictold 7 жыл бұрын

This old house staffs have never ever used gloves in their shows. Their motto might be get dirty.

@djscrizzle 7 жыл бұрын

@ ABD... I came here FROM one of Steve Lav's videos.

@lionlinux 7 жыл бұрын

he got spare hands pare

@KristineT8 2 жыл бұрын

what happens when you put the hose down and water comes up with black sediment? Sink still clogged. Before hand we plunged and snaked and black sludge came out with the snake, still backing up. Even tried main pipe cleaner and still nothing works

@khloe38 2 жыл бұрын

Did you solve this?

@KristineT8 2 жыл бұрын

@@khloe38 we had to have a drain guy come and snake the roof vent, works like new now!

@jeffsim8664 Жыл бұрын

Here is a little trick a plumber friend of mine showed me. Had a tub gurgling badly ever time toilet was flushed. So assumed thebvent atack was blocked. However it is coming out of a 12/12 pitched roof. Neither he pr i was going on the roof. Thebstack happened to be accessable in the insulates knee wall area. Out come a 3/4imch bit and he drilled a hole in thebaccessable atqck then dropped in a powered snake Whipped it around and cleared out the blockage. And then wrapped the pipe in a in a durable plastic tape. Problem solved by the old guy.

@0blivioniox864 7 ай бұрын

good idea but now you reduced the strength of the pipe significantly

@jeffsim8664 7 ай бұрын

Bit late in responding but no I don't think so . The hole drilled is within 3 ft or so of roof line. Virtually no weight above.

@tommytom4796 6 жыл бұрын

Where did the water from your garden hose go too ? In my only bathroom when I turn off the bathroom sink water i hear gurgling for about 10 seconds and than stops....but the toilet flushes fine and no noise from the sink when I flush the toilet but from time to time when I walk into the bathroom I feel I smell a strange like sewer smell but it never lingers.....any ideas on why my bathroom sink gurgles after I turn off the hot or cold water ? and the light but strange smell at times ?....thank you...

@mcroley591 6 жыл бұрын

The water flowed down the pipe to the building drain

@tommytom4796 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you !

@richardwhite6288 3 жыл бұрын

Check your sink overflow. Sometimes they get filled with soap scum and hair chem. Products and stink! Also check pop up assembly for hair clogs

@khloe38 2 жыл бұрын

What was the problem? Did u solve it?

@April-sp8un 4 жыл бұрын

Can a vent pipe have an odor coming out of it especially when it’s windy? My neighbor had to do a 4 hour rotor rooter job on his rental house because renters used toilet system without running water for 3 weeks. Ever since then I can smell a sewer odor coming from that house that’s worse when it’s warm out. Why the smell? It wasn’t like that before he had the sewer system cleared. Been a year now.

@dawood121derful 3 жыл бұрын

maybe, either the sewer gas is being trapped by a water trap in the line or the vent is clogged