Plumbers have run a first floor toilet vent in a log home through the ceiling of the first floor and into and through a room in the second floor to the roof. Because it is a log home, the vent is visible -- and unsightly. Is there any reason why the vent cannot be run through an exterior first floor wall and then outside of the structure and up to a level above the roof line?

No. I have a log home and all my vents run through interior walls. Why not yours?

Unless you live in a area where wet vents, (see image) are prohibited you don't need a extra toilet vent. Check with your local Building Department to be sure. Good luck, Tom

Hi guys

I'm thinking we are misunderstanding the question a bit..

Mba wanted to know if a vent can be run out the exterior wall on the first floor and then run the vent up the outside of the building to above the roof line... eliminating it from the inside of the 2nd floor room the pipe was run through earlier.

Here, some codes will allow that, but he would need to talk directly to the local plumbing inspector to get approval for it. Most inspectors frown heavily on this practice.

Some codes may even allow an AAV (mechanical vent) to be installed as long as it remained "readily accessible" for future swap out... this would keep the vent in the first floor bathroom. Again, here, Mba would need the plumbing inspector to approve or deny.

One other option I could think of would be running the vent in question up through a 2nd floor CLOSET... stuck back in a corner or even in a forward corner of the closet... would almost never be seen that way.

And my guess is that this "toilet vent" is actually a vent for a 1/2 bath (or entire bath), but only goes vertical as 1-2" vent. This vent CANNOT be eliminated!

Good luck!

Mark

In addition to the previous posts: Yes, vent can be installed surface-mounted on the exterior wall. But, it HAS to be a metal vent ( Cast Iron, Copper or Galvanized Steel ). If you want to use plastic (ABS or PVC ) than you would have to box it in. Hope that helps. Milo

As codes differ from state to state and even town to town I would still strongly suggest taking this question up with the local plumbing inspector to resolve this 100%!

I have to agree with Mark on this. I would not be allowed to run a vent (of any material) on the outside of the home in my area, except up through the roof.

Logs homes can be a real bear to plumb, all depending on the design. I think you would be best to just run the vent as Mark suggested, in a closet etc, or simply box around the existing vent. Sometimes you really just have to sacrifice a little bit with this type of construction. With some of the log homes I have plumbed, there are no closets or interior walls on the upper level, just an open area. In these cases, you just have to make your own chase for the plumbing. Please let us know what you find out from the local plumbing inspector.

Great answers guys, I too have a log home and all my vents are via interior walls up to the roof. I would think you got yourself plumber who doesn't know log homes. That vent can be zigzagged to reach a interior wall, do not put ot outside, it will look almost as bad