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  1. #1
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    Default Upside-down Air Admittance Valve

    I found a set of installation instructions on line for the Studor brand of AAV's.

    It says to install "in the vertical upright position".

    I don't know what brand this particular unit is; however, my question is: does anyone know of a brand(s) that can be installed upside-down?

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    Bruce Thompson, Lic. #9199
    www.TylerHomeInspector.com
    Home Inspections in the Tyler and East Texas area

  2. #2
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    Spring Hill (Nashville), TN
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    Default Re: Upside-down Air Admittance Valve

    Quote Originally Posted by JB Thompson View Post
    I found a set of installation instructions on line for the Studor brand of AAV's.

    It says to install "in the vertical upright position".

    I don't know what brand this particular unit is; however, my question is: does anyone know of a brand(s) that can be installed upside-down?
    For starters that is a mechanical vent and not an AAV. Regardless it must be installed upright for it to work properly.

    Next, mechanical vents are not approved for residential use. The can be used in manufactured homes and trailers. When they fail they do so in the open position and allow sewer gas into the home. AAV's fail in the closed position locking out sewer gas.

    Scott Patterson, ACI
    Spring Hill, TN
    www.traceinspections.com

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Upside-down Air Admittance Valve

    Quote Originally Posted by Scott Patterson View Post
    For starters that is a mechanical vent and not an AAV. Regardless it must be installed upright for it to work properly.

    Next, mechanical vents are not approved for residential use. The can be used in manufactured homes and trailers. When they fail they do so in the open position and allow sewer gas into the home. AAV's fail in the closed position locking out sewer gas.
    Well I feel stupid...nothing new; I'm used to it.

    I never understood there was a difference. Heck, I thought mechanical vents were the same thing.

    Is an "auto-vent" a mechanical vent?

    Bruce Thompson, Lic. #9199
    www.TylerHomeInspector.com
    Home Inspections in the Tyler and East Texas area

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Upside-down Air Admittance Valve

    Quote Originally Posted by JB Thompson View Post
    Well I feel stupid...nothing new; I'm used to it.

    I never understood there was a difference. Heck, I thought mechanical vents were the same thing.

    Is an "auto-vent" a mechanical vent?
    I typed "plumbing mechanical vent images" into google and found this.

    What is that thing under my sink?

    Good job, Scott!

    Bruce Thompson, Lic. #9199
    www.TylerHomeInspector.com
    Home Inspections in the Tyler and East Texas area

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Upside-down Air Admittance Valve

    Scott,

    This device from Watts is black and says "air admittance valve". Is this just a mislabeling or do some AAV's look like MAV's?


    280PV ProVent Air Admittance Valve, Air Admittance Valve, Brass & Tubular - Watts

    Thx

    Bruce Thompson, Lic. #9199
    www.TylerHomeInspector.com
    Home Inspections in the Tyler and East Texas area

  6. #6
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    Spring Hill (Nashville), TN
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    Default Re: Upside-down Air Admittance Valve

    Quote Originally Posted by JB Thompson View Post
    Scott,

    This device from Watts is black and says "air admittance valve". Is this just a mislabeling or do some AAV's look like MAV's?


    280PV ProVent Air Admittance Valve, Air Admittance Valve, Brass & Tubular - Watts

    Thx
    I have never seen the ABS (black) AAV in use, only in photos. They also make a Red color, but I have never seen it either. I'm not sure if the Watts AAV in the link is even in production as they do not offer any additional information on it.

    I still call out all black vents as a mechanical vents, One sure way to tell is if you can see a spring in the vent. If you see a spring it is a mechanical vent. With an AAV you can take it off and you can hear what sounds like a ball rolling or rattling around inside of it.

    Scott Patterson, ACI
    Spring Hill, TN
    www.traceinspections.com

  7. #7
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    Tyler, TX
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    Default Re: Upside-down Air Admittance Valve

    I appreciate your help.

    Bruce Thompson, Lic. #9199
    www.TylerHomeInspector.com
    Home Inspections in the Tyler and East Texas area

  8. #8
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    Mar 2007
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    Fletcher, NC
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    Default Re: Upside-down Air Admittance Valve

    Quote Originally Posted by JB Thompson View Post
    I found a set of installation instructions on line for the Studor brand of AAV's.

    It says to install "in the vertical upright position".
    None can be installed upside down.

    They need to be installed vertically, or within 15 degrees of vertically ... oh ... and "vertically" means "up" ... ... otherwise it would be installed "inverted".

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  9. #9
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    Dec 2008
    Location
    Maryland
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    Default Re: Upside-down Air Admittance Valve

    Here is something to ponder.
    2006 International Plumbing Code (IPC)

    Section 917 - Air Admittance Valves

    917.1 General

    Vent systems utilizing air admittance valves shall comply with this section. Individual-and-branch-type air admittance valves shall conform to ASSE 1051.

    Now;
    Home Depot sells the Oatey 1-1/2 in. ABS PTC In-Line Cheater Vent @ $6 Model # 39012
    Which does not meet ASSE 1051 which is requires to meet the Inter. Plumb. Code.

    It also sells the Oatey SURE VENT® AIR ADMITTANCE VALVE@ $20.
    Which does meet ASSE 1051 which is requires to meet the Inter. Plumb. Code.

    The only application that I am aware for the mechanical valve is for Travel Trailers.

    So why does Home Depot sell something that when used violates Plumbing Code. If the application is so narrow for the non compliant valve, why put the unknowing consumer in a position of installing something that will violate the law?

    For further amusement I called a local HD and asked if they had these two valves in stock, which they did. I further asked if they both met the Pluming Code . Which HD said they did. I specifically asked if the Oatey 1-1/2 in. ABS PTC In-Line Cheater Vent met the code requirements and was told it did.

    Stopped into a different HD that same day and asked a sales person on the plumbing floor about the valves and he knew where they were and that they sold allot of the $6 vents. I asked if knew that it did not meet code, which he did not. Told him that it did not meet code and the limited acceptable use was for RV Trailers, which he thought was interesting. Then asked why HD was putting their customers at risk by selling something that only violates plumbing code and promoted an incorrect installation by HD's complicity with the installation. No real answer, but thought it was interesting question.

    Many plumbing items can be used in many application, right and wrong. But when an item has only one real function it is interesting that a store would not take the higher ground and represent the best interests of the customer. But rather go for the few dollars on a cheep item and say screw the customer, if they buy it its their uninformed fault.


    Vertical , horizontal or upside down. If you were not supposed to use it in the first place what's the diff. Only to say that the item that was used in a wrong application was also installed wrong (a twofur). Though they would know what should be done to correct installation.






  10. #10
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    Location
    Western Massachusetts
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    536

    Default Re: Upside-down Air Admittance Valve

    Quote Originally Posted by Garry Sorrells View Post
    The only application that I am aware for the mechanical valve is for Travel Trailers.

    So why does Home Depot sell something that when used violates Plumbing Code. If the application is so narrow for the non compliant valve, why put the unknowing consumer in a position of installing something that will violate the law?
    I don't know, but I'm glad they do. For a science project, my son and I built a model submarine (maybe we should christen it the USS Jerry Peck) using plumbing supplies, including the cheap, non-code compliant valves for the ballast tanks. I'm happier to have spent $12 instead of $40 on the valves.

    How's that for another application?


  11. #11
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    Maryland
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    Default Re: Upside-down Air Admittance Valve

    Quote Originally Posted by Corn Walker View Post
    I don't know, but I'm glad they do. For a science project, my son and I built a model submarine (maybe we should christen it the USS Jerry Peck) using plumbing supplies, including the cheap, non-code compliant valves for the ballast tanks. I'm happier to have spent $12 instead of $40 on the valves.

    How's that for another application?

    Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. But, how much more could have been learned if you had designed, engineered and fabricated your own valves for the sub.


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