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View Full Version : Clean out of the roof plumbing vent, how to?


al mond
Jan 17, 2009, 09:20 PM
What is the best way to clean out the plumbing roof vent? My toilet flushes too slowly and there is no obstuction in the toited itself causing it. I think it is the roof vent that may be clogged. What is the most advisable and effective method to clean it out? Is putting water from a garden hose down the vent any good or effective or do I need to roto root it out? Any suggestiions?

Fr_Chuck
Jan 17, 2009, 09:42 PM
You can buy or rent a "snake" and run it though the line.

Rent a machine or hire a rotor company to do the line.

It is not always the vent, but when you clean it out you are cleaning the pipes under the ground.

21boat
Jan 17, 2009, 10:17 PM
I would first hand snake out the toilet and that's now checked.
To try and get away with the possible cheap way is use a garden house in vent and see if that works and flushes the vent stack out. If that is where the clog is. Be careful and have someone monitor the sinks below to make sure they or the toilet doesn't back up and onto the floor. But before you do so line up a rented snake with about 30 feet of length to snake out the vent if needed. Maybe you will get lucky, If it backs up there is your answer to the problem. Make sure you call the rental company to have snake on standby. Maybe save some money that way

Signed 21 Boat

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speedball1
Jan 18, 2009, 05:41 AM
What is the best way to clean out the plumbing roof vent? My toilet flushes too slowly and there is no obstuction in the toited itself causing it. I think it is the roof vent that may be clogged. What is the most advisable and effective method to clean it out? Is putting water from a garden hose down the vent any good or effective or do I need to roto root it out? Any suggestiions?
I don't think snaking the toilet or jamming a hose down the vent will get it.
You have to snake from the lavatory roof vent. Rent a sewer machine v.(see image) from your local Rent -A- Tool Place. Put out enough cable to reach the base and 20 feet more. Now you can flush the line out with a garden hose. Good luck and thank you for rating my answer. Tom

cindy0922
May 14, 2012, 11:33 AM
I just purchased a small 1 story home that was built in 1969 & had a new kitchen sink, tub, toilet & bathroom sink installed. I also asked the plumber to snake out all lines, including the washing machine drain pipe, which is in the kitchen.

While I was cleaning the new tub, the stopper closed, and the tub filled with about 2" of water. When I pulled the stopper to drain the tub, the toilet started bubbling & filled to the top with water. After about 15 min. the toilet drained down lower than normal, but when I tried to flush it, it filled to the top again with water. After a couple of hours I tried flushing the toilet again, and it flushed normally. Prior to this, the toilet had always flushed normally, but when I filled the tub with some water again, the same thing happened when it drained the tub.

I haven't moved into the home yet, but I haven't noticed any problem with the kitchen sinks draining.

Any thoughts on what could be causing this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Cindy

speedball1
May 14, 2012, 11:43 AM
Hi cindy and Welcome to The Plumbing Page. At AskMeHelpDesk.com. You're responding to a 3 year old dead thread. Look in then upper left hand corner of the first post form the date in the first post before you post, Thanks,

When I pulled the stopper to drain the tub, the toilet started bubbling & filled to the top with water. Call the plumber back. He either missed the clog completely or didn't run out enough snake. This should be a call back under warranty at no cost to you. If the plumber had done his job right in the first place you wouldn't be having to call him back. Good luck. Tom

cindy0922
May 14, 2012, 12:43 PM
Hi cindy and Welcome to The Plumbing Page. at AskMeHelpDesk.com. You're responding to a 3 year old dead thread. Look in then upper left hand corner of the first post form the date in the first post before you post, Thanks,
Call the plumber back. He either missed the clog completely or didn't run out enough snake. This should be a call back under warranty at no cost to you. If the plumber had done his job right in the first place you wouldn't be having to call him back. Good luck. Tom


Thanks for your response speedball. After I posted this, I realized that I had probably posted this in the wrong place, but couldn't figure out how to delete my post. Sorry.

Will look at the dates 1st next time.

speedball1
May 15, 2012, 06:25 AM
No problem Cindy,
Ya did just fine. Let me know how you maker out and if I can be any help in the future. Good luck. Tom