A kitchen sink is by far the most used fixture in the house. We are cooking and washing dishes throughout the day, so we need the plumbing pipes to drain faster.
But should the kitchen sink be vented?
Venting pipes are important in house plumbing because they allow sinks to drain water without pipe clogging and gurgling sounds. So, your kitchen sink must have a vent.
Let’s dive deep to understand what else venting pipes help with when it comes to your kitchen sink.
What Happens if You Don’t Vent a Sink?
It’s normal to think that sink venting is unimportant when your kitchen vent pipe needs a replacement or a fix. We subside the issue considering the plumbing costs.
You can come across three instances if you don’t vent a sink:
- Sewer gases can leak inside the house due to the trapped water suction draining by the negative air pressure.
- If the vent is installed correctly, vented sinks drain water faster and with a minimal gurgling sound. In this case, otherwise, the solid waste can clog the pipes.
- The wasted water can linger in the pipes due to air intervention, releasing harmful germs and smell throughout the house.
Venting sink pipes helps you in many cases, so no matter the costs, please consider venting pipes for your kitchen sink. You can avoid major plumbing expenses that can come in with the clogged, poorly drained sink.
How to Vent a Kitchen Sink Under a Window?
It’s not ideal for installing a vent pipe under the window because it’s harder for plumbers to reach and shape the venting pipes. However, we have a few tips that you can follow while venting the sink under the window.
Useful Tips:
- The vent pipes must be aligned horizontally. They’ll be pretty visible if you position them vertically.
- The drain slope you’ll use should be directed upward until the window.
- Once the window is no longer in the way, you can get vertical piping.
Under-sink vents are obligatory when the drain system cannot or has not been fitted correctly. There would be no need for additional venting if yours were set up in this manner. If not, then you need to install one under the window when you don’t have the right spot like most people.
Where Are The Vents Located?
It’s important to know where the vent is located because sometimes installing a second vent stack is not practical, especially during a reconstruction.
Any waste pipework must include a vent to prevent unpleasant odors from rising from the drain pipe from water in the “U” or “S” traps.
There must be a vent someplace in your home, but you probably can’t see it. These vents are often hidden from view and not close to any kitchen sinks; they are frequently a short pipe above the home’s roof.
3 Consequences of a Poorly Vented Kitchen Sink
1. Drains Emanating a Bad Odor
Plumbing pipes won’t trap sewer gasses without a vent. You will gradually start to notice sewage smells from your sink drains that will take over the place and be hard to eliminate.
2. A Slow Drain
A slow drain is the biggest negative side of a sink without a vent. If you have done everything possible to improve drainage and are convinced there is no blockage, the issue is probably related to the lack of a vent in your sink.
3. Gurgling
Gurgling and bubbling are not typical drain behaviors, so if your sink shows these signs, know that it is alarming and call your plumber.
Your home’s restricted airflow is the cause of any noises coming from your toilets, baths, or sinks. Due to this, water and waste have a tough time moving through the pipes making weird and loud sounds.
Conclusion
Many sinks and bathtubs overflow drainage pipes if the vents aren’t working properly. So, to help prevent flooding from soaking sinks or tubs, you need to install a vent pipe. Still, vents aren’t the only pipes essential for efficient draining.
It will be best if you also focus on other related factors because you don’t want the air pressure to cause trouble in a typical sewer system which can slow or halt draining.
