How to Vent Toilet Plumbing

Many homeowners don’t understand the role that plumbing vents play in removing waste and water out of their homes. Vents are important for healthy drains, so there’s no doubt you’ll experience drainage issues if your toilet isn’t vented correctly.

Installing a plumbing vent is also a complicated process, which can be tricky to perform on your own. But if you want to learn how to vent toilet plumbing properly, read on!

What is a vent, and why does a toilet need to be vented?

A plumbing vent is a pipe working alongside your drain pipes. It runs from a fixture up through the roof of your home. Plumbing vents regulate the air in your plumbing by helping take out toxic gas and putting oxygen into your system.

Codes require toilets, like traps or any trapped fixture, to be vented.

If you have poorly-vented drain lines, waste and wastewater can’t efficiently move from one place to another. You’ll notice backed-up toilets, overflowing drains, inconsistent water levels in the toilet bowls, and similar plumbing issues. Your safety might also be at risk.

Aside from slow drainage, improper venting can result in gurgling sounds coming from the toilets, or sewer odors escaping into your home.

How to vent toilet plumbing

Some tips to keep in mind:

1. The minimum drain size for a toilet is 3 inches, regardless of your plumbing code.

2. According to the UPC or Uniform Plumbing Code, you go with a 2” PVC pipe for the vent, depending on the number of fixtures that will run off the vent. Check your local plumbing code to be sure. However, the International Plumbing Code (IPC) recommends only 1.5”.

3. For the vent to work properly, the distance between the trap and the vent must not exceed six feet..Trap arm can be as long as necessary if you’re in the IPC.

4. There are several ways to vent a toilet, but a simple way to get the job done is using DWV fittings, although this venting method doesn’t work for everyone.

A wye with 45 is used. The wye is positioned under a wall, allowing the toilet vent takeoff to be vertical. This keeps vapor locks from occurring.

The vent can continue up the wall, and terminate through your roof. It can also tee into an existing venting system.

Need professional help? Contact Us!

Installing a vent is simple, but the average homeowner may not have the skills, experience, and knowledge to get the job done right. So if you need help or have any questions about venting your toilet plumbing, contact a Good Guy today!

Experiencing issues that come with poor vent installation? Let’s get it sorted out ASAP, to keep harmful substances from escaping into your home.

You can quickly and easily schedule an appointment online and through our app, if you’d like us to inspect your plumbing system and make sure that everything is working as it should.

Our experienced plumber is also available for other plumbing installation, repair, and maintenance services.