[bmeier]

Hi,

I have a few questions.

I currently have a toilet and lavatory in the basement. The lavatory drains into a secondary vent stack which then enters the concrete floor and connects with the toilet and eventually to the main drain.
This vent stack also runs up in the kitchen and drains the kitchen sink/garbage disposal. The vent ends with an AEV. AEV was installed by a plumber a few years ago replacing a vent which exited the roof. I know it's a little late but, was the installation of AEV within code? If it isn't, is there anything I can do about it short of rerunning the vent through the roof?

I would also like to install a shower downstream from the toilet and lavatory in the basement. What is the best way to vent it?

1. Using a combination drain vent under the floor?
2. Using another AEV as an individual vent for the shower?
3. Using the lavatory drain as a wet vent?
4. Connecting to the secondary vent stack?
5. Other ideas


Also, do you have any secrets for removing cast iron cleanout plugs? I can't remove the one on this vent stack.


Thanks for your help

[speedball1]

Hi,

I have a few questions.

I currently have a toilet and lavatory in the basement. The lavatory drains into a secondary vent stack which then enters the concrete floor and connects with the toilet and eventually to the main drain.
This vent stack also runs up in the kitchen and drains the kitchen sink/garbage disposal. The vent ends with an AEV. AEV was installed by a plumber a few years ago replacing a vent which exited the roof. I know its a little late but, was the installation of AEV within code? If it isn't, is there anything I can do about it short of rerunning the vent through the roof?

I would also like to install a shower downstream from the toilet and lavatory in the basement. What is the best way to vent it?

1. Using a combination drain vent under the floor?
2. Using another AEV as an individual vent for the shower?
3. Using the lavatory drain as a wet vent?
4. Connecting to the secondary vent stack?
5. Other ideas


Also, do you have any secrets for removing cast iron cleanout plugs? I can't remove the one on this vent stack.


Thanks for your help

I would choose door #3, but I have a question about the lavatory vent. Are you saying the lavatory vent stack also drains the kitchen as well as acting as the vent for the basement bathroom group or are we talking about two vents? By AEV are you referring to a mechanical spring loaded vent? And this terminates where?
If you are venting your bathroom group through the upstairs kitchen drain then I'm surprised your plumber didn't advise you of section 1411.2 Venting of the plumbing code titled DIFFERENT LEVELS which reads; If any stack has fixtures entering at different levels, the fixtures other then the fixture entering at the highest levels shall be vented. This means that the basement group must be vented. In other words the kitchen drain does not constitute a wet vent. To answer your question about a mechanical vent I would have to check your local codes. But unless you plan on pulling a permit and getting your work inspected, and everything's working Iwouldn't worry about it. If you're using the kitchen drain to vent the basement group you can get it vented correctly by first removing the "S" trap situation, (which is outlawed by ALL codes) and venting the lav up and reventing back in to the kitchen vent at least 6" over the flood rim of the kitchen sink. Or if you don't want the hassle of that simply install a mechanical vent downstream from the lavatory trap and you're home free.
As for removing a clean out cover that's stubborn I first load the threads up with WD40 and tap GENTLY around the threads to attempt to loosen the cover. If I still can't remove it I take a cold chisel and start to tap it out counterclockwise. If it still won't come loose I take a hammer and break the damm thing out and replace it. Good luck, Tom

[bmeier]

Hi Tom,

Thanks for your quick reply,

To answer your question: yes the lavatory vent also drains the kitchen, there is a p-trap from the lavatory a short horizontal and then a connection to the vent stack(also the kitchen drain). This pipe then goes into the concrete and I assume the toilet joins it somewhere close by. So as far as I can figure, the bathroom group is vented with the kitchen drain, because there is only one vertical pipe. Of course there is the main stack too, but that is about 15-20 feet away.

And yes the AEV is a spring loaded vent and it terminates just below the kitchen countertop.

I'm surprised the plumber did not say anything either! But what you are saying is even with the original situation, the vent exiting the roof, was still not code. Right? The reason I asked was to double check, because I was reading the Michigan plumbing code yesterday, and it said AEV only qualified for vents for drains on the same floor.

It seems I can't revent the lav about the kitchen vent, because the AEV isn't 6" above the flood rim of the sink. It seems the only correct thing to do is to put a AEV and wet vent the (new) shower on the lav drain.
Does that sound right to you?

Thanks

Bruce

[speedball1]

Hey Bruce,
"It seems the only correct thing to do is to put a AEV and wet vent the (new) shower on the lav drain.
Does that sound right to you?"
I was going to wait before suggesting using another mechanical vent but if you wish place the AEV ahead of the lav trap, tie the shower drain into the lavatory drain and you're home free. Cheers, Tom