Why Do You Snake A Drain From Roof Vent

Before you consider cleaning your drain from a rooftop take into account the accessibility of the vent condition of the roof weather and any other factors that might complicate the job.

Why do you snake a drain from roof vent. Vents allow sewer gases to escape and allow air. To continue feed the end of a garden hose down the vent and have someone on the ground turn on the water. I snake all the time from the roof. Instead they serve to equalize air pressure within the dwv system and also release sewer gases into the outdoor air as all vent pipes terminate through the roof.

This is most likely to occur on a flat roof from which the snow does not drain properly or after a really heavy snowstorm that results in several feet of snow on the roof. If the air from the drain or toilet smells like sewage this can also be a sign that the vent pipe is blocked. Also i don t go on tile roofs as there is a risk of damage. If you can see but can t reach run a plumber s snake down the vent pipe.

Listen carefully for water backing up and a sudden whoosh as the weight of the water pushes the clog back down the drain. A vacuum is being created that is pulling things in the wrong direction. The vent pipes are part of the drain waste vent or dwv system of a house or building and they do not carry water inside them. Depending on the design of your roof and location of the vent setup and cleanup can also be easier than using an indoor drain opening.

If you started to experience the problems described above after a snowstorm snow on the roof is probably blocking your sewer vent. Typically a 3 of 4 roof vent can be found on the older homes. Do not try this. Snaking a sewer from the roof is my go to plan if there is.

With the right machine it s not an issue. For those items you can t remove from above run the plumber s snake down the vent pipe. Feed the end of a garden hose down the vent pipe and have someone on the ground turn on the water. The waste lines in your house are connected to a venting system that performs two important functions.

If you want to snake a roof vent the electric eel model c is capable of turning 200 feet of self feeding 1 1 4 dual cables at 500 rpm. Of course i avoid steep roofs and most 2 story pitched roof. Listen carefully for water backing up and a sudden whoosh when the weight of the water forces the clog into and down the drain.