How to Snake a Vent

A clogged vent stack can cause your waste plumbing to operate poorly.

A home's waste plumbing system is made up of two sets of pipes. One set carries the waste material to the city sewers and a second vent system gives sewer gases a safe passage out of the building. A vent system rarely becomes clogged because it doesn't normally carry any material. If your toilets or sinks drain slowly and you smell sewer odors in your home, the vent stack may be obstructed. This typically occurs just below where the vent stack exits the roof line at the first elbow.

Things You'll Need

• Plumbing snake
• Bucket

Instructions

1. Fill the bucket with warm water and climb up onto your roof with the bucket and plumbing snake.

2. Insert the plumbing snake's wire into the top of the vent stack. This is the black ABS pipe sticking straight out the top of the roof line. Push the wire down the stack until it reaches the obstruction.

3. Rotate the plumbing snake to free the blocked vent stack. Pull the plumbing snake out of the vent.

4. Pour the warm water down the top of the vent to flush out the debris from the system.

Tips & Warnings

• Falling from your roof may lead to life-threatening injuries. Do not walk on your roof if it is too steep, made from a slippery material, or you are unfamiliar with this task.

References

• Plumbing-Basics: Cleaning Out Vent Stack