Sewer venting through roof deck
We are in contract on a place in Park Slope that has a roof deck (top unit of a 3-unit brick building). The inspector noticed a plastic pipe rising up through the roof deck a couple of feet. He said this was the sewer vent and the top of the pipe should be at least…
We are in contract on a place in Park Slope that has a roof deck (top unit of a 3-unit brick building). The inspector noticed a plastic pipe rising up through the roof deck a couple of feet. He said this was the sewer vent and the top of the pipe should be at least 3 feet above the deck level.
Since that inspection the seller has cut the vent down to the level of the deck. Anyone have any advice on this — will the smell be irritable/intolerable to people on the deck? Should we push the seller to change this?
If there isn’t going to be an issue with the smell we’d rather keep it low b/c it’s pretty ugly.
think I would go with master plvmber’s advice, rather than a neighbor’s. Just could be all those pipes are not up to code too (not unheard of). And maybe the codes have changed over time so old renovations might not reflect that.
I don’t know much about plumbing code, but I think they make a charcoal filter for vent pipes that can be used if odors are a problem. My family looked into one when the neighbors complained about a septic field vent at our cottage in New Hampshire. No idea if they work or if this is an appropriate use — just mentioning that they exist.
Hi new neighbor, I can see that place from my deck. I can also see many, many others and there are no vent pipes sticking 6 ft above the roof lines on any of them. None.
Look at the vents for the other roofs in the photo. That’s what most look like or they have a curved top. I can’t think of any others that are PVC, but whatever. Just make sure to put some kind of mesh over it or do the curve because it’s the perfect size for some yahoo to drop an empty beer can down. I have never smelled any type of sewage smells. It was my understanding that it was needed to avoid a vacuum.
Cmu, I don’t think PVC is compliant in this application.
Code section PC701.10 states: Plastic pipe and fittings may be used for drain, venting and waste removal in residential buildings five stories or less in height.
The poster states it is a 3-unit building, which I believe the DOB regards as a multi-family.
I’m just saying.
Thanks very much Master Plvmber and all!
Yeah, since it’s PVC now, extending it with PVC is no more code-uncompliant (if it is anyway,) so that’s not an issue. Get 6′ of PVC, a coupling and glue and it takes 2 mins. Then build a chimney around it. 2 hours, tops.
Because of the way wind moves over a roof, wind can push down the pipe and blow the water out of your toilet bowls and sink traps. You want to install it according to code. It should actually be 6 feet above that wood decking you have there.
By the way, you’re right, you may wind up smelling sewer gases the way it is installed now.
It has to be extended.
simple fix either way, u dont need a plumber. do it yourself…
[Hmm, my comment didn’t get posted.]
Thanks, Master Plvmber. Forgive my ignorance but I don’t understand what you mean by “function properly”. Is it so the odors disperse etc.? Or for building code? Here’s a picture.
http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n367/Brooklyn_Cat_PS/sewer_vent.jpg
bxgrl: I don’t know why the seller did it either. They have been good otherwise and don’t think we’ll have to pay for the error.