Pittsburghs Trusted Plumber Offers Drain & Vent System Tips Using Air Admittance Valves

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (PRWEB) October 21, 2012

The primary conduit for all this work is the main vent stack, a pipe usually 3-inch to 4-inch in diameter running through the roof, says Beall.

One or more secondary stacks of smaller pipe (2-inch 3-inch) act as branches of the drain/vent system and branch drainpipes, typically 1 1/2 inch to 2 inch, carry waste water from fixtures to a stack. Older materials, according to Beall, who offers free expert plumbing tips daily to consumers, such as cast iron and galvanized piping, have gradually been replaced by plastic pipe, first a black-colored ABS, then white- or cream- colored PVC. Beall also recommends that the homeowner always check with local building codes to make sure the materials being used are approved.

The system of pipes and stacks carries waste-water to the main drain line, where it flows to the municipal sewage system or a septic system, says Beall. Gravity makes the whole system work, according to Mr Rooter, but in order for the water to flow down at the correct velocity, all drainpipes must be sloped at a minimum rate of 1/4 inch per foot.

Mr Rooter Tip Of The Day: Principles Of Venting

Tip #1 For waste to flow in a drainpipe smoothly it must have an unrestricted air passage in front of and behind it. Otherwise the movement of the water would create a vacuum behind it and high pressure in front of it (pushing air bubble out the toilet), slowing or actually stopping the flow (and pulling water from the traps).

Tip #2 Vent pipes provide this open airway.

Tip #3 All drainpipes in a house must be connected to a vent pipe so that waste can be carried away efficiently without the problem of creating and air pressure wave ahead of the water flow or creating a vacuum behind it.

Tip #4 In some cases, drainpipes are connected directly to a main or secondary stack, which travels through the roof.

View original post here:

Pittsburgh’s Trusted Plumber Offers Plumbing Drain and Vent System Tips Using Air Admittance Valves

A PLUMBER was flown to Royal North Shore Hospital with burns to 12 per cent of his body after striking a gas line at Kanwal on the Central Coast this morning.

Brett Wall, 40, was digging a trench to install an overflow stormwater pipe when he inadvertently hit an 18mm natural gas service line running to the house he was working on.

His father, who was labouring for him, said they called the gas company to alert them of the leak.

The man, who declined to give his name, said staff from the gas company told Mr Wall "to make the hole bigger" so they could repair the gas line.

"All I heard from 20m away was 'poof' and I looked around and saw Brett on fire," his father said.

It is believed a spark from the electric jackhammer Mr Wall was using may have ignited some escaped gas.

Paramedics were called to Sara Jane Cl at 8:39am and took Mr Wall to Wyong Hospital where he was then airlifted to Sydney by the Ambulance Rescue Helicopter.

Excerpt from:

Plumber strikes gas line, burns body