Inspect For Clogged Roof Vent

Insert a 12 foot long electrician s probe down.

Inspect for clogged roof vent.

Use a flashlight to shine a bright light down the vent pipe to look for further blockage you can reach. If you can t see water running down the. Spray water into the vent opening. Slow draining and gurgling plumbing fixtures could be a sign of a clogged roof vent.

Remove any items you can reach. Steps to unclog a drain from the roof get yourself up on your roof using a ladder that is properly secured remove the vent pipe cap if required inspect the inside of the vent pipe with a bright flashlight grab the debris if you can see it and test your pipes if you can t see the clog grab your. To do it yourself start by clearing debris from around the pipe. Sometimes a clogged vent will require a professional plumber to open up the walls of your home to get a good look at your drainage system.

From the roof slowly feed an inspection camera down the vent stack. That may be enough to clear the vents but if it isn t water will fill them and. If you can see but can t reach run a 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.

Professional plumbing companies can inspect vent lines and confirm whether your suspicions are warranted. And on homes that do not have a main drain cleanout accessing a clogged main drain through the roof vent could be your best option. Climb the roof with a garden hose and spray water into the main vent opening. When a clog forms in the vent stack it blocks the free flow of air which creates a vacuum in the vent pipes and slows or prevents drainage from any fixture in the house.

For those items you can t remove from above run the plumber s snake down the vent pipe. They can use specialized plumbing tools such as augers to break through the blockage restoring the vent line s function. Have someone inside the house flush the toilet while you watch the monitor. Then try the following.

Because most drain vent pipes are up near the roof sometimes debris from the roof can even clog a pipe. If the main vent is blocked the water will back up. That s a sign that you need to clear the vent pipe with a plumbing. Bird s nests debris and rodents are all known culprits for clogging vent pipes.

If your vent line is obstructed plumbers have several options they can use to resolve the problem. Start by trying to clean the roof vent and main drain with a hand held drum auger.