How to Repair a Clogged Toilet Vent
A clogged toilet vent will prevent a toilet from draining properly. When flushed, excessive air pressure in the drain line stops the toilet water from forming a whirlpool in the toilet bowl. Aspiration happens when a clear vent maintains constant atmospheric pressure in the drain pipes. During the flush, air escapes the pipes as the water level rises, and returns when the water level lowers to its at-rest level. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends cleaning the toilet vent stacks every spring. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Climb onto the roof. For safety's sake, use a ladder that extends over the roof by 2 feet. Place the ladder against the roof's eve in a place that will not damage the gutters.
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2
Remove any vent covers. Most vent covers are held in place with a hose clamp or screws. Use a flat screwdriver to remove both types of connections.
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3
Remove the debris from the vent covers. Use a hose to wash vent covers with spinning blades or louvers.
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4
Remove debris from the top of the vent stack with a gloved hand. Leather work gloves will help protect your fingers from sharp objects that an animal may have placed in the vent.
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5
Slide a plumber's snake down the toilet vent pipe. Use the end of the snake to grab any visible bird nests and pull them up to the vent pipe opening.
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Push the plumber's snake to the bottom of the vent pipe. The vent will terminate at a drain pipe. When the plumber's snake reaches the drain line, the snake will bottom out and you will feel resistance as the snake tries to turn down the drain.
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7
Shake the plumber's snake, then pull it out 5 feet. Shake it again. This will scrape the debris from the walls of the vent pipe. Remove the snake.
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8
Reinstall the vent cover.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit roof image by Andrzej Włodarczyk from Fotolia.com
