Can Plumbing Vent Pipes Freeze?

In addition to a kitchen fan, your house is equipped with a dryer vent, an exhaust for the furnace, a chimney for the fireplace, and an exhaust for the kitchen. The plumbing vent stack is often the one that receives the least amount of attention out of the three. This is due to the fact that it often does not call for a lot of maintenance. However, if the temperature is too low, you can run into some difficulties. Sewer gasses might potentially pile up inside of your house if it freezes shut. Additionally, it might make it more difficult to flush your toilet. Here is the information that you need to know:

What Does It Do?

It is possible for sewage gasses to leak harmlessly via your roof thanks to the vent stack. In the vast majority of houses, there is only one stack, and all of the drain lines are linked to it in some way. This kind of pipe is normally constructed of cast iron, however, some contemporary houses have PVC versions of it. (Cast iron is better at the insulating sound, but it also transmits more heat than other materials.) Each drain in the house (sinks, toilets, tubs, etc.) will also have a trap, which is generally a curve in the pipe that is filled with water. This curve serves as a stopper to prevent sewer gasses from escaping from the drain, and it is present in all drains in the home. Vents in the plumbing system maintain a consistent air pressure throughout the drain system, which prevents water from being sucked out of the traps.

What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

When the temperature outside is exceptionally low, the water vapor in the vent may freeze on the top of the stack, which may cause the vent to become entirely blocked. When anything like this occurs, the pressure in your drain system may be thrown off, which may result in the water traps being emptied. The gasses might potentially build up inside of your house if there is no vent to the roof. Not only does sewage gas have a putrid odor, but it also may include substances that are toxic to humans, such as carbon monoxide, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide. Even if the exhaust vent does not completely close due to freezing, it is possible that it may become constricted. If this occurs, the flushing of toilets and other drains in your home may become difficult.

What Can You Do?

• If you are able to view the cap from the ground or a window, do a visual inspection to determine whether or not there is ice accumulation. You shouldn’t climb up onto your roof.
• If your toilet is running slowly or making gurgling noises, this might be an indication that the vent is clogged.
• The insulation is essential. If you have access to the pipe in your attic, covering it with insulation can prevent ice from forming on it while also keeping it warmer.
• If you run hot water from one of your faucets, heated vapor will be produced, which may assist in the melting of the ice.
• If you want to warm up the stack, opening a door or vent to your attic is one way to achieve it; but, doing so may temporarily raise your heating expense.
• To maintain a full trap in drains that aren’t used very often, it’s a good idea to periodically pour warm water down them. This is of utmost significance for floor drains in particular.
• Check to see that the top is free of snow and debris caused by leaves.
• If this is a persistent issue at your residence, you may want to consider moving the stack further away from the roof or attaching heat tape to it within the attic space where it is located. Additionally, the use of an insulated hat might be of assistance.