Thread: Something inserted into plumbing vent in attic

This is a plumbing vent in the attic. The vent is opened up and something is inserted into it. It looks like there is tube coming out of it. Anyone ever see anything like this? If so you help would be appreciated.
vent.jpg

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Condensate drain? I see this sometimes when a condensate pump is installed or when it just was not handy to route the drain from the AC to outdoors. Usually it was just routed to the closest vent stack where a hole was drilled through or the vent stack was pulled up enough to insert the tube...

Originally Posted by Alton Darty

Condensate drain? I see this sometimes when a condensate pump is installed or when it just was not handy to route the drain from the AC to outdoors. Usually it was just routed to the closest vent stack where a hole was drilled through or the vent stack was pulled up enough to insert the tube...

In this case it is a two story with the AC in the basement and condensate is routed to the drain. I am befuddled.

I don't know what it is (I've never seen such before), but I can tell you that it is completely wrong, as is drilling into the side of the vent and inserting a condensate drain line.

There are correct ways to do things, and there are incorrect ways to do things, that photo shows the incorrect way to do whatever it was they were trying to do ... the vent now vents into the attic.

Originally Posted by Tom Cissell

In this case it is a two story with the AC in the basement and condensate is routed to the drain. I am befuddled.

Looks like a discharge line for a small pump. You said the A/C is in the basement but is the furnace in the attic?

Originally Posted by Ian Page

Looks like a discharge line for a small pump. You said the A/C is in the basement but is the furnace in the attic?

Both AC and furnace are in the basement. No mechanical systems in the attic.

Originally Posted by Ian Page

Looks like a discharge line for a small pump. You said the A/C is in the basement but is the furnace in the attic?

Both AC and furnace are in the basement. No mechanical systems in the attic.

My guess is an inflatable test plug. They may have air tested the system instead of a water test and used the plug to seal the stack-forgot to remove and glue stack.

What is the other wire-coax cable?

Originally Posted by Mark Reinmiller

My guess is an inflatable test plug. They may have air tested the system instead of a water test and used the plug to seal the stack-forgot to remove and glue stack.

What is the other wire-coax cable?

The other wire goes to a wire loop. I suspect it is to prevent the thing from falling down the vent and secondly to use it to pull it out. The wire loop is not shown in the picture. I think you may have nailed it. Of course, I told them to remove whatever it and fix the pipe.

Originally Posted by Mark Reinmiller

My guess is an inflatable test plug. They may have air tested the system instead of a water test and used the plug to seal the stack-forgot to remove and glue stack.

What is the other wire-coax cable?

Could be - which raises several questions about that plumber's practices.
- That joint was never glued.
- The DWV system is to be tested with (used to be 5 feet of head) (now is 10 feet of head) above the highest fitting or to the top of VTR ... and that is likely the highest fitting with the VTR less than 10 feet above the fitting - which means filing the system to overflow at the VTR.
- I suspect that system never got tested, at least not properly.
- What other unusual and strange practices did that plumber use?

In some areas they test using air to 5 psi. That could explain why they had a test plug at the top. It also would explain why the joint had not been glued. They probably unplugged everything else and forgot to go back to the attic to finish the job.

Originally Posted by Mark Reinmiller

In some areas they test using air to 5 psi. That could explain why they had a test plug at the top. It also would explain why the joint had not been glued. They probably unplugged everything else and forgot to go back to the attic to finish the job.

Thanks to everyone who replied. I have never seen this before but if I see it again I will know what I am seeing.

Originally Posted by Mark Reinmiller

In some areas they test using air to 5 psi. That could explain why they had a test plug at the top. It also would explain why the joint had not been glued. They probably unplugged everything else and forgot to go back to the attic to finish the job.

They are still required to test the entire system, to the top.

They just use air or do they add the peppermint oil (I believe it is peppermint oil).

Because we're frozen half the year in Minnesota, a 5psi air test of the DWV is required at rough-in instead of the water column test. During the winter, at homes with steep, snow and ice covered roofs, plumbers will put a test ball in the main stack, as shown here. Because they can be forgotten, I'll only allow it with prior permission. And I'll put a note on the inspection card to check at the final inspection.

Peppermint oil is only used if they have a leak and cannot find it.

Originally Posted by Fred Weck

Because we're frozen half the year in Minnesota, a 5psi air test of the DWV is required at rough-in instead of the water column test. During the winter, at homes with steep, snow and ice covered roofs, plumbers will put a test ball in the main stack, as shown here. Because they can be forgotten, I'll only allow it with prior permission. And I'll put a note on the inspection card to check at the final inspection.

Peppermint oil is only used if they have a leak and cannot find it.

How do they test that highest fitting?

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

How do they test that highest fitting?

With a 1" water column manometer air test at the final with a cap on the vent above the roof line if it was connected after the rough in test (warm weather final). Or not at all. State plumbing code requires a primer with a contrasting color, so either you will see a glued joint or what you see what the OP has above. The glued joint is outside of the living space and isn't under any pressure so it's not likely to be an issue. Perfect situation? No.

Originally Posted by Fred Weck

The glued joint is outside of the living space and isn't under any pressure so it's not likely to be an issue. Perfect situation? No.

I have seen many primered and glued joints in the attic leak at rough inspection with water filled to the top of the VTR.

I have had many plumbers say it is not required and no one else makes them do it - I show the code requirement to them, they do it, and are surprised to find that it leaks.

You are correct in that there is no pressure on it during service, but rain does run down the vents and I have seen evidence of leakage out of those couplings and fittings just from the rain.

Seeing you are in Minnesota vent stack ice capping can be a problem.

According to Charlotte Pipe, never, ever use air or other gases to pressure test their pipe no matter what the test pressure.
http://www.charlottepipe.com/Documen...AirTesting.pdf

http://www.charlottepipe.com/Documen...ech_Manual.pdf see page 103 for testing procedures and warnings.

That is a typical restriction of pipe manufacturers, but air tests are sometimes used anyway.

- - - Updated - - -

That is a typical restriction of pipe manufacturers, but air tests are sometimes used anyway.