[jknightmi]

My kitchen sink drains into my drain pit in the basement. It is then pumped out of the pit into my drainfield I guess. I have city water and sewer and firat wonder if this is to code, I live in berrien county in Michigan. Second, when the sump pump kicks on to pump this water out, it sucks all of the water out of the trap under the sink, creating a gurgling noise. I was told by a friend that my "vent" pipe was clogged. How can I tell if I have a clogged vent pipe? And if it is clogged... how do I unclog it?

[speedball1]

Your vent sounds like you have a blockage. The vent's located on the roof just above the sink. Rent a sewer machine and send the cable down the roof vent until it reaches the base. Now put out 20 feet more. Flush with a sink full of hot water. Good luck, Tom

[MarkNat]

Is that the best fix for clearing the blockage? I am pretty sure mine is clogged too. This is the first I have ever heard of a vent pipe too. I blew down it and my wife said the water in the sink shot up. I then ran a 25' snake down and seemed like I was in something gooey but I didn't have the length to open the drain.

This has helped so far.

[westnlas]

I had some luck with acid on my friend's house. I bought a quart of acid drain cleaner at OSH and poured it down the stack. It smelled real bad for a bit, half hour later I flushed the vent with a garden hose. Did the trick.

[speedball1]

I can not advise against using muratic acid, or any acid, in a enclosed area such as a rest room strongly enough. As a young boy I would take limed up toilet bowls out in the alley behind the shop and boil the lime out of them. Over half a century later my lungs still carry the scar tissue that the acid fumes caused. A few years ago I lost a good friend when he used a commercial drain cleaner containing sulfuric acid in a unvented bathroom. Acid IS NOT A GOOD IDEA to use to clear mineral buildup. Take it from one who's paid the price. Regards, Tom

[westnlas]

I stand corrected, however most vents are open to good ventilation. Since the method was to pour the acid down from the top of the vent, I felt it was a safe procedure as the fumes could only go back through the stack and would not enter the bath after clearing the drain because of the traps. Oops ! Again, It's what I would do, certainly not for everyone.