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jeffhill60 · Jul 24, 2012, 08:03 AM

I own a single story home that is built out of cinder blocks. I haven't owned the home too long, and recently discovered that none of the plumbing is vented. I only have a kitchen and bath sink and bath tub but they all drain into the main sewage line. So I am wondering how or if I can add any kind of venting to my home. I am aware of AAV's, but can I use these for the main sewage line too?

speedball1 · Jul 24, 2012, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by jeffhill60

I own a single story home that is built out of cinder blocks. I haven't owned the home too long, and recently discovered that none of the plumbing is vented. I only have a kitchen and bath sink and bath tub but they all drain into the main sewage line. So I am wondering how or if I can add any kind of venting to my home. I am aware of AAV's, but can I use these for the main sewage line too?

Yes, If AAVs are legal in your area you may use them to vent your home. But let's take a walk back in time. I go back a long way in plumbing. I assume that you have a older home.
Back in Wisconsin, where my father had a plumbing shop on the 30's to the 50's we ran one 4" sewer line through the house and brought it up through the roof. This vented every fixture we connected to the sewer line. At that time we didn't vent each fixture. These homes were grandfathered in and are still in existence today.
My question to you is," do you have a drainage problem Why are you asking about vents now? " Back to you, Tom

jeffhill60 · Jul 24, 2012, 11:41 AM

Other than my kitchen sink draining slow, I don't have any other issues. After researching a little, it seems like every home should be vented.
As I stated in my first post, my home is made of cinder block; and as you posted about "one 4" sewer line through the house, I am wondering if I can't put a "tee" into my main sewer line and run a vent pipe from that and out through the foundation walls of my house. Running it vertically up along side the house, with some sort of vent cap to cap it off. Thanks so much for the first reply! Much appreciated!

speedball1 · Jul 24, 2012, 01:13 PM

wondering if I can't put a "tee" into my main sewer line and run a vent pipe from that and out through the foundation walls of my house. Running it vertically up along side the house, with some sort of vent cap to cap it off.

But you already have that now if the drainage is installed as I've stated. A better idea would be to cut in a tee just after the kitchen sink trap and install a AAV. Good luck, Tom

jeffhill60 · Jul 24, 2012, 01:31 PM

Originally Posted by speedball1

But you already have that now if the drainage is installed as I've stated. A better idea would be to cut in a tee just after the kitchen sink trap and install a AAV. Good luck, Tom

Sorry Tom, I didn't clarify that I don't have a vent in the house at all. Nothing running up through the roof or anywhere.

speedball1 · Jul 24, 2012, 01:44 PM

I didn't clarify that I don't have a vent in the house at all. Nothing running up through the roof or anywhere.

WOW! How old is your house? I go all the way back to when homes were built in the 40s. You must hear a lot of gurgling when you drain of flush, That's the only way the system can vent itself. To vent your house by code would cost you big bucks, What's happened that concerns you now? Slow drains? Noisy traps when draining? Let me know, Tom

jeffhill60 · Jul 25, 2012, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by speedball1

WOW! How old is your house? I go all the way back to when homes were built in the 40s. You must hear a lot of gurgling when you drain of flush, That's the only way the system can vent itself. To vent your house by code would cost you big bucks, What's happened that concerns you now? Slow drains? Noisy traps when draining? Let me know, Tom

Tom, my home was actually only built in 1967. It was built by the homeowner himself. His son is my neighbor; that is how I know some of my info. No, we do not hear any gurgling. As I have previously stated, my kitchen sink is the only drain that is slow. No noisy traps, and no other slow drains. Oh, I just remembered that there is an uncapped "tee" in the main pipe, (I guess this could be considered a vent) but it too is still in the crawl space. So again, could I run pipe from there (through a hole that I create) to the outside of my house? Would this be of any advantage to me?

speedball1 · Jul 25, 2012, 09:52 AM

could I run pipe from there (through a hole that I create) to the outside of my house? Would this be of any advantage to me?

Yes you may and the advantage would be that you no longer have a open line in your crawl space that allows sewer gas to enter your home. As for that slow draining sink you can cut in a tee just downstream from the trap and install a AAV. Good luck, Tom

jeffhill60 · Jul 25, 2012, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by speedball1

Yes you may and the advantage would be that you no longer have a open line in your crawl space that allows sewer gas to enter your home. As for that slow draining sink you can cut in a tee just downstream from the trap and install a AAV. Good luck, Tom

Tom,
Thanks so much for your time and trouble! Very much appreciate it!