Venting into attic in cold climates:New Hampshire

[vdotmatrix]

After 40 years my inlaws home in New Hampshire is having drain issues. We had the line snaked from the septic tank and we had it snaked from the inside going out… the only other issue has to be venting. There are no visible vent stacks on the outside of the home so i feared my father in law did something possibly unique to new hampshire: venting into the attic. Then i found these.

 

[The Cobbler]

I don't get it, drains with no vents... but they are in round duct in the attic with flappers?

 

[Jeepster04]

hmm, good ol stinky gas in the attic.

Some of those look like bathroom vents or something.

 

[Shiftless]

Looks to me like one or two of them are fart fan exhausts. Turn on each bathroom fan and go up in the attic again to see if there is constant air flow.

 

[vdotmatrix]

I don't get it, drains with no vents... but they are in round duct in the attic with flappers?

I don’t know . Does anyone know if this is a thing in the northern states where it is cold as hell in the winter? I am going to relay this info to my wife. I would think vent would either be pvc or dwv pipe. I am not a plumber

 

[wyb2]

You can have the sewer vent inside as long as a one-way vent is installed that allows air in but not out to prevent sewer gases from freely polluting the space.

I’m not a plumber or building inspector, so there might be more to it. But we have one of these in my house (in NH) that passed inspection recently, so it is a thing.

But those look like bathroom fan exhausts. If they are connected to sewer vent lines, that’s probably bad. If they are actually bathroom exhausts, that’s definitely bad.

 

[Shiftless]

If they are actually bathroom exhausts, that’s definitely bad.

Absolutely right. Warm moist air from the bathroom shower enters the cold attic and condenses on the wood framing and the underside of the cold roof. The wetness breeds mold and wood destroying organisms.

 

[vdotmatrix]

You can have the sewer vent inside as long as a one-way vent is installed that allows air in but not out to prevent sewer gases from freely polluting the space.

I’m not a plumber or building inspector, so there might be more to it. But we have one of these in my house (in NH) that passed inspection recently, so it is a thing.

But those look like bathroom fan exhausts. If they are connected to sewer vent lines, that’s probably bad. If they are actually bathroom exhausts, that’s definitely bad.

We are way up in Bethlehem. There has to vent stacks that i cannot see on the roof SOMEPLACE.. In general, vent stacks belong outside on the roof Even in NH. right?

 

[vdotmatrix]

Absolutely right. Warm moist air from the bathroom shower enters the cold attic and condenses on the wood framing and the underside of the cold roof. The wetness breeds mold and wood destroying organisms.

I agree.

 

[vdotmatrix]

Absolutely right. Warm moist air from the bathroom shower enters the cold attic and condenses on the wood framing and the underside of the cold roof. The wetness breeds mold and wood destroying organisms.

i looked carefully last fall/summer for evidence of mold or mildew and found none. Definitely needs more investigation

 

[58Yeoman]

i looked carefully last fall/summer for evidence of mold or mildew and found none. Definitely needs more incestigation

Incestigation? I'm afraid to google that one.

 

[The Cobbler]

vent stacks belong outside on the roof Even in NH. right?

yes, you don't want sewer gas inside the dwelling .

 

[Wolley]

The gray pipe looks like PVC and would be plumbing vent. By the looks of the rest of it maybe the FIL is one of those guys who thinks you never need to pump a septic tank in 40 years, just add some yeast every couple years. Maybe when they fixed the roof they cut them down and never bothered to go back through the roof

 

[PCustoms]

We are way up in Bethlehem. There has to vent stacks that i cannot see on the roof SOMEPLACE.. In general, vent stacks belong outside on the roof Even in NH. right?

This wasn't done because NH is cold, it was done because someone was lazy/ignorant.

All the vents should be to the outside, regardless geographic location.

 

[vdotmatrix]

The gray pipe looks like PVC and would be plumbing vent. By the looks of the rest of it maybe the FIL is one of those guys who thinks you never need to pump a septic tank in 40 years, just add some yeast every couple years. Maybe when they fixed the roof they cut them down and never bothered to go back through the roof

Ye, that’s not him. It is pumped out every 2-3 years next is May 1. No on the roof. nothing ever went through the roof. Ye, you don’t know my FIL. Thanks for responding.

 

[vdotmatrix]

This wasn't done because NH is cold, it was done because someone was lazy/ignorant.

All the vents should be to the outside, regardless geographic location.

No need to be fkg rude in your tone, he is My FIL. He designed and built the 3 floor home on 200 acres. And ye, I see stuff that didn’t follow some code parameters but this is the effin puckerbrush of the NORTH Country of NH… thanks for responding.

 

[PCustoms]

No need to be fkg rude in your tone, he is My FIL. He designed and built the 3 floor home on 200 acres. He was a deputy commissioner for the IRS in the day. And ye, I see stuff that didn’t follow some code parameters but this is the effin puckerbrush of the NORTH Country of NH… thanks for responding.

You're welcome.

Apologies that my post triggered you. I did appreciate the irony in your response.

 

[ybnormal]

You're welcome.

Apologies that my post triggered you. I did appreciate the irony in your response.

I didn't see a problem with your post. whoever did it was either lazy or ignorant. what being a deputy commissioner for the IRS has to do with it .... maybe he audited plumbers so he knows how to run vent stacks?

 

[Buckgnarly]

Man, if you think Bethlehem is remote......come on up north.....hahahaha!

 

[vdotmatrix]

I didn't see a problem with your post. whoever did it was either lazy or ignorant. what being a deputy commissioner for the IRS has to do with it .... maybe he audited plumbers so he knows how to run vent stacks?

By no means ignorant.

 

[vdotmatrix]

I think i have all i need. Thanks For for the responses. UNWATCHING!

 

[PCustoms]

Maybe this will help:

 

[cannuck]

Man, if you think Bethlehem is remote......come on up north.....hahahaha!

Depends on what you call "North". I now live where it is -40 several times each winter and moved down here to escape where 40 below was just a nice, normal, brisk winter day. And in both cases ALL vents clear the interior space of an "attic" like place above ceiling insulation.

 

[Fav Onefour]

Whatever they are, I am impressed. The attic looks good. What kind of attic venting is used in the structure?
I've been in a few attics with fart fan outlets. In cold climates, it does not take long for those to make a mess of the wood, insulation, nails, and anything else that will have condensation. Mold, rust, and rotting wood are the standard feature around the outlets. I would think normal sewer vents would also let some moisture into the attic. I've never seen one to the attic, but we have the roof top versions freeze with frost.

I'd do some investigation and find out for sure what they connect to in the house. If those flapper covers are on vent stacks, it might be enough to slow down drains if they close tight. The puzzling part is why they would start now?

 

[Buckgnarly]

Depends on what you call "North". I now live where it is -40 several times each winter and moved down here to escape where 40 below was just a nice, normal, brisk winter day. And in both cases ALL vents clear the interior space of an "attic" like place above ceiling insulation.

Northern NH or some other truely remote area.....anyone who thinks Bethlehem NH is some remote outpost has never really been outside nice comfortable urban areas.

 

[PCustoms]

Northern NH or some other truely remote area.....anyone who thinks Bethlehem NH is some remote outpost has never really been outside nice comfortable urban areas.

But it's the "effin puckerbrush of the NORTH Country of NH"!

 

[MongoTA]

After 40 years my inlaws home in New Hampshire is having drain issues. We had the line snaked from the septic tank and we had it snaked from the inside going out… the only other issue has to be venting. There are no visible vent stacks on the outside of the home so i feared my father in law did something possibly unique to new hampshire: venting into the attic. Then i found these.

First guess would be that the dampered ones are bathroom exhaust fans, they could be routed outside (perhaps through a gable wall) for the health of the structure.

The PVC/ABS looking one is probably the plumbing stack. That's the one I'd want vented to the outside for the health of the occupants.

I hope you have good luck getting it rectified. With access to the roof sheathing from below and the roofing shingles from above, It's not horribly difficult pull a few shingles, cut a hole, add a boot, and reset the shingles to get a properly flashed boot through the roof.

 

[ybnormal]

By no means ignorant.

then I guess it means he is lazy . there is no shame in admitting ignorance, not all of us can be Deputy Commissioner for the IRS. don't know what else you want us to say

 

[danfromsyr]

ignorance doesn't mean he's stupid..


and yeah, only way this would be cool is if it was a seasonal camp. cause.. well camps don't follow rules.

I do say it's creative use of dryer vents as one way fart fan snorkels.

also this wouldn't cause the plumbing issue unless something was packed in there by a squirrel or a house mouse.

ok back to slow draining..
since you snaked it from tank to house and from house to tank..
is the tank level upto the inlet pipe form the house? is it submerged? there should be a drop at the inlet since the outflow is lower than the inflow.
only asking for clarity to the situation. as if the tank is up to the inflow.. then the leach field isn't draining because... it's water logged? or the Orangeburgh pipe is collapsed.. (had this happen to mine.. ) from ground heave/movement and age on the tar paper pipes used back then.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I think we are done here.