Hi everyone!
I decided to do a bathroom renovation and have run into a few plumbing vent issues I did not anticipate. I'd appreciate any thoughts and assistance with them.
1. When removing the tile around the whirlpool tub I found a capped vent in the wall. When the house was built (1993) I recall the plumbing inspector rejecting the plumbing because the whirlpool was not vented but then it was later approved. I don't recall any details beyond that but suspect this is related. The Whirlpool has drained fine for 30 years with no issues. The overflow has always been loud but everything has always worked. Out of curiosity I removed the cap on the vent and the whirlpool performed exactly the same. Any thoughts why it is capped (and not even glued)? It has always worked fine so I suspect just leave it alone except to perhaps glue it on to prevent any sewer gas from escaping - although none has ever been noted.
2. After removing the old one-piece shower unit (converting to a tiled shower) I see that the plumber took advantage of the seat area of the fiberglass shower unit to run the vent up and over an LVL beam before going up the back wall of the shower. Can I move this vent on the opposite side of the "nook" adjacent to the toilet? The wall is between and shower/toilet nook and a walk-in closet which are both in the larger bathroom area across from the whirlpool and double sinks. Running to the sidewall of the shower would require holes in the floor joists which are too close to the end so not possible. But any suggestions on vent placement are appreciated if I am wrong.
Additional detail:
- The shower & tub are on the opposite side of the bathroom from the sinks.
- The shower/tub drain follows the joist cavity to the end of the bathroom then runs along the house outer wall under the joists before returning up the wall the whirlpool and sinks are on.
- The shower vent is about 29 feet upstream of the whirlpool drain due to the wrap-around run.
- The sink vent is about 5 feet downstream from the whirlpool but I can't see how it is plumbed.
- The basement below the bathroom is finished with drywall including the ceiling.
- I dug through the attic insulation and only see vents from the shower and sinks which go pretty directly out the roof on this area of the house.
Thank You!
I decided to do a bathroom renovation and have run into a few plumbing vent issues I did not anticipate. I'd appreciate any thoughts and assistance with them.
1. When removing the tile around the whirlpool tub I found a capped vent in the wall. When the house was built (1993) I recall the plumbing inspector rejecting the plumbing because the whirlpool was not vented but then it was later approved. I don't recall any details beyond that but suspect this is related. The Whirlpool has drained fine for 30 years with no issues. The overflow has always been loud but everything has always worked. Out of curiosity I removed the cap on the vent and the whirlpool performed exactly the same. Any thoughts why it is capped (and not even glued)? It has always worked fine so I suspect just leave it alone except to perhaps glue it on to prevent any sewer gas from escaping - although none has ever been noted.
2. After removing the old one-piece shower unit (converting to a tiled shower) I see that the plumber took advantage of the seat area of the fiberglass shower unit to run the vent up and over an LVL beam before going up the back wall of the shower. Can I move this vent on the opposite side of the "nook" adjacent to the toilet? The wall is between and shower/toilet nook and a walk-in closet which are both in the larger bathroom area across from the whirlpool and double sinks. Running to the sidewall of the shower would require holes in the floor joists which are too close to the end so not possible. But any suggestions on vent placement are appreciated if I am wrong.
Additional detail:
- The shower & tub are on the opposite side of the bathroom from the sinks.
- The shower/tub drain follows the joist cavity to the end of the bathroom then runs along the house outer wall under the joists before returning up the wall the whirlpool and sinks are on.
- The shower vent is about 29 feet upstream of the whirlpool drain due to the wrap-around run.
- The sink vent is about 5 feet downstream from the whirlpool but I can't see how it is plumbed.
- The basement below the bathroom is finished with drywall including the ceiling.
- I dug through the attic insulation and only see vents from the shower and sinks which go pretty directly out the roof on this area of the house.
Thank You!