How to Clear Snow From a Plumbing Vent

Snow accumulation on your roof may bury vent pipes with openings too low.

Your plumbing vent pipes exhaust sewer gases out of the drainpipes in your house, as well as allowing the plumbing to draw in fresh air to replace air flushed down the pipes. Snow may pile up high on a roof, possibly covering the vent pipes so they do not function correctly. To prevent this from happening, vent pipes should have openings that sit 6 inches higher than the highest expected snow accumulation level on the house’s roof.

Things You'll Need

• Roof rake
• Shoes with good tread
• Ladder
• Screwdriver
• Hot water
• Heat tape

Instructions

1. Clear as much snow off the roof using a roof rake. Removing the snow makes finding the vent pipes easier, and it makes walking on the roof easier.

2. Put on some shoes or boots with good tread so you do not slip while walking on the roof. Place a ladder on a secure patch of ground that is free of ice, and climb the ladder to your house’s rooftop.

3. Locate the clogged plumbing vent pipe, which should sit above the plumbing fixtures that are not working correctly. Clear any snow from the pipe’s opening with your fingers or a screwdriver.

4. Pour hot water down the vent pipe to clear away any leftover snow accumulation. Wrap insulation such as heat tape around the vent pipe in the attic to help prevent snow or ice from building in the vent pipe in the future.

References

• Ask the Builder: Roof Vent Ice
• Check this House: Plumbing Vent Problem
• South Dakota State University: Extension Specialist Offers Information for Dealing with Frozen Plumbing Vents