Plumbing is more than just the faucets and taps we see in front of us. There are numerous pipes in the walls of your home that direct water into and out of your home, but there are also plumbing vents. Most homeowners wouldn’t know that plumbing has vents, but they are just as important as the pipes. Here’s what you need to know.
What is a plumbing vent?
Also known as a vent stack, a plumbing vent regulates the air pressure of your home’s plumbing system. In the same way that drainpipes remove the waste and water from your home, a vent stack will remove odours and gases. Additionally, it allows fresh air into your home, and this will improve the water flow and drainage within your home.
The plumbing vent doesn’t have any actual water flowing through it, but it does connect directly with the central roof vent of your home. This will allow your home’s plumbing system to maintain the proper pressure.
How important are plumbing vents?
The purpose of the plumbing in your home is to move water into and waste out of your house efficiently. The drainage system works with the ventilation system to make sure this happens.
While the drainpipes are working to move the waste out of your home and to the city sewer lines (or septic) and water into your home, the plumbing vent ensures fresh air is put into the drainpipes.
If the drainage and ventilation systems are not working together correctly, it can cause issues with your plumbing system.
Common issues with plumbing vents
If the plumbing vent in your home isn’t working properly, it could cause any number of issues, including:
- Low water pressure/low flow of water from faucets
- Water not completely draining from sinks, showers or bathtubs
- Water slowly draining from showers, sinks or bathtubs
- Unpleasant odours coming from drains around the house
- Gurgling sounds coming from the drains and/or pipes of your home
Sometimes these symptoms can be confused for a clogged drain, which most homeowners can rectify themselves. However, if it is a blocked plumbing vent, it may not be a DIY job.
Contact Wentworth Plumbing today
The longer a blocked vent is left unrepaired, the bigger of a problem it will become. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it may be time to call a professional plumber.
Contact Wentworth Plumbing today if you are experiencing issues that you have not been able to resolve. Our professional plumbers can identify the cause of the problem and recommend an appropriate solution.