Plumbing vents exist for a good reason. They allow air and gas to escape from your drain pipes, which ensures the water and waste go down smoothly. Most homes have a plumbing vent — or sometimes even a few vents — that empty on the roof. This may have you wondering whether plumbing vents can develop clogs The short answer is yes. Keep reading for more details about clogged plumbing vents and how to address this issue.

What causes clogged plumbing vents?

There are a few different things that can cause clogged plumbing vents. Sometimes, a bird may build a nest at the top of the vent or even inside of it. Other times, something may fall or be blown into the vent. Vents are meant to have covers on the ends to prevent issues like this, but those covers can sometimes go missing or become damaged.

There are also times when a home has a sewage blockage and some of the sewage backs up into the vents and then gets stuck, causing a clog.

What are the signs of a clogged plumbing vent?

The key signs of a plumbing vent clog are gurgling from the drain, slow drains, and nasty odors coming up from the drains. If the sewage gas cannot travel up and out through the vents, then it has to go somewhere. It ends up bubbling up and out of the drains, and you smell the odors. You may notice that when you turn the water on, it pools in the sink before slowly going down the drains. Toilets may hesitate when you flush them, or they may not flush completely.

What should you do about a blocked sewer vent?

If you think you have a blockage in your sewer vent, then you should contact a plumber. They can locate the blockage, often by sending a small camera into the vents. When they locate the blockage, they can use a special sort of grabber tool or auger to remove it. Then, they will take some steps to prevent future clogs. This may involve putting a new cap on the end of your vent or repositioning the vent opening on your roof.

Plumbing vents play an important role in your plumbing system. But like other components, they can experience issues from time to time. Clogs in the vent system are not that hard to deal with, but you do need to watch out for them and take action quickly.

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