Greetings,

I am remodeling my house and have just finished roughing in a new bathroom. I am at the point now where I'm ready to extend the stack through the roof.

I'm trying to figure out how high the stack needs to be.

I seem to remember that the proper stack height was reached by using a level to determine a horizontal line that began from a point 18" up slope from where the stack pipe protrudes through the roof back to the stack ( creating a triangle). The stack should be no shorter than the height of this line.

Is this right or have I been breathing too much plumbing cement?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nelsondljr

Greetings,

I am remodeling my house and have just finished roughing in a new bathroom. I am at the point now where I'm ready to extend the stack through the roof.

I'm trying to figure out how high the stack needs to be.

I seem to remember that the proper stack height was reached by using a level to determine a horizontal line that began from a point 18" up slope from where the stack pipe protrudes through the roof back to the stack ( creating a triangle). The stack should be no shorter than the height of this line.

Is this right or have I been breathing too much plumbing cement?

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Hey Nelson,

"have I been breathing too much plumbing cement?"

Gimmi some o that good $hit you're snorten!! I want to trip too!! ( Just kidding! )
We have always made our stacks six inches above the roof line.
Where did you get your information from?
I live in Florida where the roof slope aren't as steep as up North where they have snow to contend with. Configuring the stacks to a 60 degree roof up North would give you some pretty tall stacks. What would be the reason for this? Can you give me a link? Cheers Tom

Tom,

When I got out of high school (1971) I went to work for a local plumber. Worked in the trades for about 8 years and decided that the cold winters, slinging and caulking cast iron pipe were taking a toll on my body. So I got out of the trades.

But during that time, we were doing a lot of new construction, of course it was all copper, black pipe (for gas) and cast iron.

I just remember the formula from doing so much of it back then. I haven't been able to find any info on it on the net. I was lucky to find this site so I thought I'd ask around.

I'm not sure of the distance that we would measure up from the stack pipe, it might have been 12", but that is how we did it back then up here in New England.

I guess I could ask the plumbing inspector but that would be too easy.

Well, thanks for the quick response.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nelsondljr

Tom,

When I got out of high school (1971) I went to work for a local plumber. Worked in the trades for about 8 years and decided that the cold winters, slinging and caulking cast iron pipe were taking a toll on my body. So I got out of the trades.

But during that time, we were doing a lot of new construction, of course it was all copper, black pipe (for gas) and cast iron.

I just remember the formula from doing so much of it back then. I haven't been able to find any info on it on the net. I was lucky to find this site so I thought I'd ask around.

I'm not sure of the distance that we would measure up from the stack pipe, it might have been 12", but that is how we did it back then up here in New England.

I guess I could ask the plumbing inspector but that would be too easy.

Well, thanks for the quick response.

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Thanks for the information. I broke in on cast Iron drainage and galvanized water pipe in the 40s at my dads shop in Beloit Wisconsin. I retired in 1988 here in Sarasota and have lived in the same house on Sarasota Bay for the last 50 years ever since we moved down as a family unit. Cheers, Tom

I have a 12' by 12' pitched roof on a log home I recently purchased and remodeled. I have a vent stack that is 12" in height on roof and 3" in diameter. I can smell sewer gas in upstairs bathrooms (2). No smell in basement bathroom. Also, I can smell the sewer gas outside once in awhile. I live in northeast MN. Should I extend height of stack? If so, how high so I do not have problems in the winter.
Russ

@RussDavidson: Welcome to the AMHD !

Please, read post dates before you answer. This thread is 12 years old. Thank you. Milo

Hey Milo. Old thread, but new questions. I would think 12" above the roof would be fine, but I'm not a plumber.