4 Simple Steps to Clean Bathroom Vent Pipe

Are your bathroom drains underperforming? It might sound a bit illogical, but sometimes the root of your bathroom drain might lie on your roof. The bathroom vent pipes establish air supply into the drainage system of the house. 

A clogged vent pipe, therefore, could lead to babbling sinks and unpleasant smells in your bathroom. So, how can you clean bathroom vent pipe?

You can clean a bathroom vent pipe by climbing onto the roof, flushing water through it, and taking out the clog with a plumber’s snake.

A congested bathroom vent pipe can lead to toxic gas buildup inside the house. In the worst-case scenario, it could cause a severe explosion. Knowing how to clean bathroom vent pipe can help you avoid such an undesirable situation.

How to Clean Out a Plumbing Vent Pipe: A Comparison Table

Signs of a Clogged Vent Pipe

Before you start cleaning, it’s essential to recognize the signs of a clogged bathroom vent pipe. Look out for the following:

• Musty Odors: A musty or moldy smell in your bathroom is a clear indicator of poor ventilation.
• Condensation: If you notice condensation on your bathroom walls and ceiling, it’s a sign that moisture isn’t being properly vented.
• Inadequate Suction: When you turn on the bathroom fan, check if there’s a lack of suction. This suggests a clog in the vent pipe.

Things You Would Need

• Ladder
• Garden hose
• Adjustable nozzle
• Plumbing snake
• Rope
• Screwdriver
• Flashlight

How To Clean Bathroom Vent Pipe?

Step 1. Secure The Ladder

Grab a ladder for getting to your roof. Place it on level ground and ensure a firm footing. Also, assure that the ladder top exceeds the roofline by at least three feet. That’s why we would advise using something along the lines of the Louisville Ladder FE3216 Fiberglass Extension Ladder. To prevent the feet from slipping, you can secure the lower end of the ladder by tying it to a tree or a porch column.  

Step 2. Get To The Roof

Once you properly stabilize the ladder, climb to the roof. Don’t forget to take a screwdriver and a garden hose with you.

Step 3. Spray Water Down The Vent

Undo the vent cap screws and remove the vent cap. Then, spray water into the vent with the garden hose. Control the intensity of the stream with the adjustable nozzle. Often, you won’t have to do anything else to clean the vent.

Step 4. Get The Plumbing Snake

Try spraying as intensively as possible. But, even if switching to jet mode fails to unload the blockage, then it’s time to move on to the next step. Get a draining snake about 10 to 20 feet long. You can use the Ridgid GIDDS-813340 41408 we had recommended in our bathroom pipe blockage article.

Now, push the cables inside the vent and extend them to the clog. Keep on releasing until you break up the obstruction. Flush with water afterward. To learn more about operating a plumbing snake, you can check out this Wikihow tutorial. 

How To Clean Bathroom Vent Pipes Without Getting To The Roof?

Not keen on the idea to get on the roof and fix the vents? If your vent pipes are made of PVC instead of cast iron, there is an alternate way to clean the bathroom vents. It’s good news for house owners with a phobia of heights because, in this method, you can clean the vents without stepping outside the house.

Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC is a popular material for pipes. Whether it’s drain pipes or vent pipes, PVC is a smart choice because of its lower price, durability, and easier maintenance. The trick we will discuss now is only suitable for PVC pipes because they are easy to cut and repair. 

First, identify the location of the vent in your bathroom. When you find the vent section, cut out a part to make room for the snake to go in.  A Capri Tools 20105 12″ Mini Hacksaw would be the perfect tool for this action. Drop the snake into the hole and continue probing until you discover the blockage. Try both upward and downward directions.

After removing the clog, you would have to patch up the pipe. You can place PVC couplings to fill the gap and secure the edges with cement. Usually, a rubber gasket secures the vent to the roof. It’s quite flexible, so you can readjust it to re-attach the vent with minimal effort.

How To Keep Your Bathroom Vents Clean?

1. Use Appropriate Vent Cap

Using a vent cap is an excellent idea since it keeps out animals, leaves, and other items that can block the vent.

However, you would have to pick the right type of vent cap to make it functional. Otherwise, it would not be effective and cause additional problems like creating a layer of ice on the vent mouth in winter. Consult a professional while choosing vent caps.

2. Check For Vermin

Vents could be the ideal place for birds, rats, and squirrels to take shelter. So, frequently check the vents for vermin.

3. Trim Tree Branches

Trim the tree branches that are hanging right over the vents. Leaves and other debris falling from them would fill up your vents. So, removing nearby branches would drastically reduce the likelihood of clogged vents. 

Frequently Asked Questions

[faq-schema id=”4500″]

Final Say

Bathroom vents are not the usual suspects, but they can be responsible for the bad odor you have been complaining about. So, it’s important to learn how to clean bathroom vent pipe so that you can maintain a healthy plumbing system in your house.

That said, we should warn you that working on the roof is a risky endeavor. If you are not confident, hire a professional to get your vent pipes fixed. If you do decide to do it by yourself, take adequate precautions.