Staff will begin trap and vent (4″ pipes sticking up in your yard) inspections and mapping. Purpose of the mapping is to update our electronic files on the location of each property’s clean out. The information could be extremely helpful should you ever experience a clog within your lateral piping. By code, each trap and clean out must be 6″ above grade. This height prevents storm water from entering into the collection system. Should we find any vents or traps that are below grade, we will correct them one time at no cost to the homeowner. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the office.
How Vents and Traps Work
At first glance, drains seem to work even without traps and vents. Plenty of do-it yourselfers leave out these key components, without understanding their importance.
• Traps hold enough water to form an airlock against sewer gases.
• The trap in each fixture, when properly vented, provides a liquid seal that prevents sewer gases from entering the building.
• Vents allow sewer gases to flow up the soil stack and exit the DWV system without coming into your home through plumbing fixtures.
• Vents equalize pressure to aid drainage and allow sewer gases to escape to the outer air.
• Without a properly functioning trap and vent, high or low pressure in the drains may create unsafe conditions.
• The vent system allows outside air into the drain system to keep vacuums from forming in the drains. Think of vents as upside-down drains with gasses rising in the pipes in the same way that water flows down them.
• Each plumbing fixture should also have a vent that allows odors and sewer gases to escape and atmospheric pressure to enter, thus preventing backpressure when water fills the pipes.
High pressure
• Without venting, high pressure in the drains may force sewer gas out through traps and toilets.
• You’ll probably hear gurgling and bubbling in the fixtures.
• You may also smell the vile bacteria odor mixed with sewer gas.
Low pressure
• Without proper venting, lower pressure in the drains may cause siphoning in the traps whenever you drain fixtures.
• If the traps are dry, sewer gas vents directly into the house.
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