Sewer Roof Vent Iced Over

Sewer vent pipes are on the roof of homes and other buildings.

Sewer roof vent iced over. Causes of blocked sewer vents and their solutions. Sewer vent pipes on the north side of the roof also may be more prone to frost plugging than those on the south side of the roof. The frost free sewer vent stays clear of ice without treacherous trips to the roof patented easy to install vent sized to fit all standard pipes. Just as drain pipes remove water and waste from your home the plumbing vent pipe also known as a plumbing air vent removes gas and odors it also allows fresh air into the plumbing system to help water flow smoothly through the drain pipes however no water.

What is a plumbing vent. The pipe through the attic is 3 and the roof vent pipe is 4 so the outlet of the sewer vent pipe on the roof has a metal cap which reduces the opening down to about 2. Snow buildup in your vent pipes can lead to sewer gases inside your house. The diameter of the vent pipe varies from 1 1 2 to 6 inches.

Typically the short smaller diameter vent pipes less than 4 inches can freeze shut. For long periods of cold weather install a temporary heat tape down the vent pipe on the roof. I installed insulation wrap on the sewer vent pipe in the attic but it didn t help much. If this happens pour warm water down the roof s sewer vent stack.

If you started to experience the problems described above after a snowstorm snow on the roof is probably blocking your sewer vent. If you live in a cold weather environment your sanitary waste system s roof vent line probably freezes in the winter. Your plumbing vent pipes sit exposed on your house s roof where objects such as tree twigs tennis balls and even snow may fall down the pipes. Excessive snow on the roof can block the vent s stack and cause freezing.

If enough snow falls in your area during a short period of time the pipes may become clogged with the snow which may freeze in the vent pipe. There are a number of possible causes of blocked sewer vents. A gurgling toilet may indicate a clogged or frozen vent stack. The plumbing vent also known as a vent stack helps regulate the air pressure in your plumbing system.

These three are the most common. Increase the size of the vent pipe 30 freezing occurs 1 per 12 hours.