"What type of air is being expelled out of that mechanical vent? Before you answer that question, let's assume that the vent does NOT work (burned out)."
Okey dokey, the powered vent is not working.
"Now, what is being expelled out of that vent--Gravity fed warm/ hot attic air (whether working or not)."
On warm and hot days, yes. But the reverse occurs on cooler nights and days. Outside air is being drawn into the attic space.
"What is being sucked in thru the plumbing vent-- nothing. The vent is only a positive/negative pressure relief."
Tis only partially true. Air is sucked into the plumbing vent every time water goes down a drain pipe.
Ah, but what is being *expelled from* the plumbing vent? Sewer gas. Which not only rises but settles and disperses, some of it going *down into* the building opening which is constantly open (the non-working powered vent). From this ... see your next comment below ...
"Now, I'll ask... what is being drawn into the home? Everything from both the
non-working (worst case assumption) mechanical vent and the plumbing vent are gravity fed-- nothing is being sucked in."
Yeah it is. See my comment above.
"Is everything in the code perfectly written... nope-- but most are."
Cannot agree more there. Code is a consensus document, it is what 'has been agreed to' and voted on. That is why code is not strict nor the best way, it is simply 'the worst way everyone could agree to'.
"This just happens to be one of those that you ask yourself, does it cause a safety concern?"
Yes it is. See my comments above.
"Does it have the potential to cost the homeowner a monetary issue? Does it create a health issue? Does it create a functionality issue for either the plumbing or attic ventilation?"
Yes, to all three.
"I just think this is one of the "small fish" that won't make me loose any sleep at night over."
I hope you don't lose much, if any, sleep over most things on inspections, it is not worth it, but, it is well worth writing that up.
If you don't, and don't want to, *I* certainly am not losing any sleep over it, *it is not my* clients who will be living there.
