5 Warning Signs of a Poorly Vented Plumbing System

0% Interest and $0 Down For 12 Months

You constantly depend on your home’s plumbing system, and proper ventilation is key to everything running smoothly. The correct ventilation ensures that waste and water can flow through the pipes easily. Plus, vent pipes (also known as plumbing air vents) are needed to help prevent sewer gasses from entering your home.

You may not be familiar with your plumbing vents, but our goal is to help educate you on the importance of proper ventilation. As one of the leading drain and sewer line repair companies in Hicksville, NY, we want you to know that there are indications of poor ventilation to look out for.

Before we discuss the warning signs of poorly vented drain lines, let’s go over the different types of vent pipes.

Types of Vent Pipes

When it comes to learning about plumbing vents, what you need to know is that different vent pipes are used for different locations. Some of the most common vent pipes include:

• True Vents: One of the most common types of vent pipes, this drain pipe connects to the drain line and runs up to the roof.
• Common Vents: This vent pipe is used for two plumbing fixtures on the opposite sides of a wall.
• Loop Vents: These vent pipes can be used for freestanding sinks or island sinks.
• Wet Vents: This type of vent pipe can be used for toilets and sinks.

Poorly-vented drain lines can wreak havoc on your plumbing system, potentially causing your drainage system to malfunction. Here are five warning signs of improper ventilation to look out for:

Foul Odors

What you need to know about plumbing vents is that they have various benefits, one of the most notable being that they keep foul sewer odors at bay. The drains in your toilets and sinks have traps that hold a small amount of water after being drained. This little bit of water helps prevent sewer gasses from rising from the drain system.

However, if there is not enough air pressure in the drains, this can dry out the small amount of water in your traps. As a result, sewer gas can enter your home.

Slow Drainage

Another warning sign of poorly vented drain lines is slow drains. Check your bathtub and sink drains for sluggishly-draining water. Improper ventilation may have created a pressure imbalance in the drain pipe.

Bubbling Toilets

Have you noticed bubbles in your toilet bowl? Unfortunately, a bubbling toilet is another warning sign of poorly vented drain lines. A blocked vent can cause excess or unusual air pressure within the drain lines, leading to this strange and unexpected bubbling.

Flushing Problems

If you’re having trouble flushing your toilet, this can be another bothersome warning sign of poorly vented drain lines. What you need to know about plumbing vents is that they ensure that the pressure within your drains and sewer lines is balanced.

A blocked vent can lead to excess pressure within the sewer line, negatively affecting the toilet bowl’s water level. When this issue happens, you might have to flush the toilet multiple times.

Gurgling Noises

The last warning sign of poorly vented drains is noisy gurgling drains. Your drains and plumbing fixtures shouldn’t be making any noise, and if they are, this indicates a problem. Strange gurgling noises signify an issue with the ventilation and that air pressure is restricting the flow of water and waste.

Contact Us

Our plumbing systems work hard every day, but it can be easy to overlook mistakes, such as poorly-vented drain lines, until they become a problem. Don’t attempt any repairs yourself if you think you have a ventilation issue. What you need to know about plumbing vents is that they should be handled by a professional plumber.

Gold Star is here to educate our customers on proper plumbing system ventilation. When you suspect a problem with your vent pipes, you can count on us to get the job done right, including water main repairs in Nassau County. Contact us today!