Trap drain vent cap plug damaged leaking missing, hints from a home inspector
Trap drain vent cap plug damaged leaking missing : a trap is a plumbing fitting connected to a fixture such as a sink, tub, or shower which consists of a curved section of pipe with one inlet and one outlet. Water which is trapped in the bottom of the curve forms a water seal which prevents sewer gases from entering the building through the fixtures drain pipe. The pipes protruding through the roofs of buildings are usually "vent" this sink drain has no trap in the drain line. Sewer gasses will drift into the building. Pipes. The major purpose of these vent pipes is to prevent the water in a trap from being siphoned out. An incorrectly installed vent may cause the water to drain slowly and may "bubble" or "gurgle" as it goes down the drain. As the water runs out of a fixture it pushes air ahead of it. This air usually goes up the vent pipes. If it cannot, because of a vent blockage or an improperly installed vent, it may drain slowly. Sometimes metal traps will corrode to the point that they can leak. Many of these are taped up with duct tape or electrical tape. The inspectors have even seen automotive radiator hoses installed as drain lines and traps. Vents should be extended at least several inches above the building roof line but are often seen terminating under the eave or even inside walls or cabinets. Caps or plugs are used at clean-out points and often leak or will be damaged and sometimes are missing or are an incorrect material. Traps and vents must be on all fixtures. Caps or plugs should be on all clean-out openings. Contact a plumbing contractor for assistance in installing traps. This is a simple job for him to perform. Retrofitting a vent stack may be much more difficult. There are many situations which are easily repaired by the property owner with some plumbing expertise.
Dielectric brass intermediary couplings
Water hammer or pipe rattle
Plastic water pipe exposed inside building footprint
Water pipes exposed to freeze (plastic metallic): water pipes can burst if exposed to hard
freezes .
discolored water .
Gas valve to any appliance not installed
Cap or plug needed on open gas valve or pipe
Hose bib sprinkler system main line back flow prevention
The above information was provided by TWI Systems Copyright 1995-2007 1-800-553-5660. TWI is a fantastic company to deal with!
