Freezing sewer vent pipes

[gr8outdoors]

Just got off the roof. Went in basement n something smelled dead. Smelt the drain n knew what it was. Just dumped some hot water down both vents. Upstairs tub was gurgeling when flushed toilet, so figured it was coming. Be safe all n take care of it! Happy New Year!

 

[riverview]

yes I have a septic system and have the same issues with vents freezing up

 

[onpoint!]

For the first time ever, had to unplug mine yesterday (downstairs bathroom smelled). Warned the neighbors.

 

[BrokenBackJack]

Driving around Bismarck yesterday and wow were there plugged or semi-plugged sewer vents.

 

[Velva_zv21]

Sitting in the driveway and looking at the house and looks like this topic needs to be brought up again... just something to think about with all the cold last couple weeks

 

[JayKay]

Careful on the roof(s). Not only can they obviously be slippery, but shingles are incredibly brittle at 30 below. Easy to break shingles, and pay for the damage later. I won't go on my roof in the winter, unless I have a real reason.

 

[Bossman]

Also don't forget about skylights..I have about 3.5 feet of snow on the roof and one of the skylights starting leaking yesterday..I had to get up there and clear the snow so the water/ice that was thawing would freeze again...

 

[onpoint!]

fashioned a copper T two years ago following my last time on the roof, has worked well since apparently. thought its effectiveness was from a combo of heat inside going up as well as sun warming the copper from the outside enough to keep the ice from forming... either way, it cost a trip to hardware store for under $10.

 

[Huntfish24]

Insul vent insulated vent cover black sleeve slips over your pipe keeps from freezing

 

[eyexer]

Using black abs plastic pipe on just the short stretch out the roof helps too. But honestly I’ve never had a vent freeze

 

[BRK]

I've had plenty of vents freeze up. Another thing to keep an eye on is the exhaust of your furnace, whether vented through the roof or side of the home, as well as a radon mitigation system, if you have one. My radon system damn near iced completely shut the round of cold before this.

 

[lostinnd]

I never did get around to messing with it last summer and twice I have had them freeze up so far this winter. The first time I just used a really long extendable paint pole with a roller frame attached to the end to knock them free. Luckily I can reach them with a short ladder on the deck and not have to mess around with climbing on the roof. I bought some PVC safe heat tape and my plan is to drop a heat tape down each vent, or one anyway, and if it starts icing just plug it in. Should be easy enough. I may get in the attic and install the heat tape more permanently later on as well. Its not fun coming home to a shitty smelling house when its below zero outside!

 

[bronco]

http://www.thegoatsteepassist.com/

These look cool for getting on the roof any time of year... I use 3/4 PVC tees have on out of three vents giving me trouble this winter

 

[Magpie]

Besides the frost- snow plug visible on the top of the pipe. Sewer vent pipes will freeze in the attic just above the insulation line. Where the cold attic air meets the warm house air. Hot water or a long spud bar for that. The copper T should be long enough to extend below the insulation.

 

[Motor Mouse]

[FONT=&quot]Insul Vent Insulated Sewer Vent. Google this buy the size for your vent slip it on and forget it. Been using them for years. Best thing is they are built by handicapped workers. Wagon Wheel I n Washburn ND sells them or buy them online.

[/FONT]

 

[fireone]

My bathroom ceiling vent fan has started dripping in cold weather the last couple years. I think the flexible tube going up to the roof vent frosts up and then thaws out, running back out of the fan housing. When I remodeled the bathroom I should have run it out the wall in a U shape. And my roof vent freezes too. Years ago our old farmhouse had a cast iron vent pipe and I'd shoot the ice off with a .22.

 

[5575]

My furnace was acting up so I started checking things step by step after reading google search stuff.
Have had our new home for a while now and never thought of checking the furnace suction that comes out just above the concrete of my basement. About 2.5 feet off the ground with a cover over it like one for the dryer.
It had a fine screen over it and that screen was covered solid with grass clippings from over the years. Something to check out also from time to time.

 

[ShootnBlanks]

Careful on the roof(s). Not only can they obviously be slippery, but shingles are incredibly brittle at 30 below. Easy to break shingles, and pay for the damage later. I won't go on my roof in the winter, unless I have a real reason.

I take the family up to roof when its -30. Better view of sundogs

 

[ndbwhunter]

And it begins...Mine aren't frozen shut yet, but noticed formations on both sewer vent pipes and the radon vent pipe. The warm-up predicted for Sunday can't come soon enough.

 

[Weekender]

I put these on just before winter this year: https://www.menards.com/main/buildi...sulated-sewer-vent/iv3000/p-1541140092927.htm

So far they appear to be helping.