Check your vent stacks.......

[tdkkart]

Since we don't have a plumbing section I'll post here.

The temps here since Xmas have been in the +/-10F range, and odd stuff will happen............

This morning when SWMBO flushed the stool she heard the tub drain gurgling.
Hmmm?? WTF is up here?? Flush another stool, same thing. Obviously we have a ventng problem. DOH!!!

Put on my boots and took a walk in the backyard just far enough to see the sewer vent stack on the roof. Yep, sure enough, big ball of ice around the top.

More clothes, hammer, big screwdriver, pair of pliers, ladder, crawl up on the roof and chip the ice out of the top of the vent stack. One ring right at the top, another 18" down right where the pipe exits the roof, completely plugged.

The kitchen sink stack has the same problem, but with the snow and ice on that portion of the roof I wasn't sure I'd get back up if I went down there, so it's still plugged.

Never seen , or noticed this before, but I see the neighbors stack has the same problem coming on.

So, if those of you in the frozen north start having drain problems, check your vent stacks.

 

[rodnok1]

The last winter when we lived in the north we had that happen to the vents, stupid inspectors won't let you put a cap on, they're afraid it'll cause them to ice over, go figure. I poured boiling water to clear one of them out. It happened to a new furnace I put in that had the combustion air from the vent also, had to go out everyday that cold spell and knock the ics off, damn high efficient furnace! I've also had pine cones make a direct hit and eventually plug the vent, now those are fun to get out.

 

[tdkkart]

The last winter when we lived in the north we had that happen to the vents, stupid inspectors won't let you put a cap on, they're afraid it'll cause them to ice over, go figure.

Actually, mine had a cap on it, little dome thing, and I took it off. All the cap is going to do is slow the air coming out, giving it more time to cool/condense, and better the chances of it freezing up. My cap is now in the storage shed. I've never seen a vent stack around here with a cap on it.

 

[coppermouse]

Whats a swmbo?

 

[M900]

She who must be obeyed.
Thanks for the tip. Maybe someday Ill live somewhere cold.

 

[Rickstir]

Lived in MO all my life, never had that happen. We haven't been about 18 for 10 days and mostly around zero.

 

[bazzateer]

Whats a swmbo?

Used to have a swmbt - just substitute 'obeyed' with 'tolerated'.

 

[mhm993]

Guess she became a SWINLoT--
She who is no longer tolerated.

 

[51rider]

You guys have it all wrong-it's 'SWTSMBO'

She Who Thinks She Must be Obeyed.

Must be the common language thing.............

 

[sharage71]

you can definately tell the married from the non-married.

 

[70redbee]

Tell the truth guys...You all know it is spelled....THE BOSS...yea we be married

 

[nate379]

How big is your vent stack? Here if a 2" is required we have to run 3" for the last 2-3 feet of pipe... or where it gets really cold 4"

I have heard of people having success taking a 10ft stick of copper, putting a T on it and dropping it down the pipe. It pulls the heat up from down in the vent stack and the ice won't form.

 

[Mattlt]

How big is your vent stack? Here if a 2" is required we have to run 3" for the last 2-3 feet of pipe... or where it gets really cold 4"

I have heard of people having success taking a 10ft stick of copper, putting a T on it and dropping it down the pipe. It pulls the heat up from down in the vent stack and the ice won't form.

I've always wondered about making the vent stacks larger in the attic. Wasn't sure if it would be worthwhile. How about insulating the pipe as it goes through the attic?

Assuming by 10' stick of copper, you mean copper pipe? That's an interesting idea... I suppose it would act as a mini-chimney and draw air up? I wonder if there's anything magical about copper? Wonder if a 3/4" chunk of pvc would work? (I'm a tightwad and copper's expensive!)

 

[shaune]

Living in a somewhat colder climate......Canada i have never had a problem with any homes i have lived in. Usually running some warm water will "warm" a hole enough to keep the vent open.

 

[kwb]

I wonder if there's anything magical about copper? Wonder if a 3/4" chunk of pvc would work? (I'm a tightwad and copper's expensive!)

Copper is very thermally conductive, that will draw heat to area of less heat basically warming the top of the vent stack from heat that would have been going through the wall.

 

[tdkkart]

Wonder if a 3/4" chunk of pvc would work? (I'm a tightwad and copper's expensive!)

Good grief, a 10' piece of 3/4" copper is less than a 12-pack of beer, and PVC is only half that much, but the trip to the store costs you something if the PVC doesn't work, which IMO it probably won't.
I'm going with the heat transfer properties of the copper.

I'm thinking some of the heat going up my stack is coming from the septic tank. I noticed last week that the tank is warm enough to slightly melt the snow on the ground above it.

 

[nate379]

Wow! How much ground do you have over your tank? Here they have to be at least 4ft under, but most are deeper.

 

[tdkkart]

Wow! How much ground do you have over your tank? Here they have to be at least 4ft under, but most are deeper.

The top of the tank is only about 18" down, which is pretty common around here even though the "frost line" is supposedly 40". There was only about 4" of snow on it anyway, so it melted down easlity.
If the tank is "working" it should be a bit warm anyway.