Soil Stack or Stack Vent

It is the pipe that takes methane gas, also commonly referred to as sewer gas, from the plumbing system and safely vents it up through the roof, where it is diluted into the atmosphere.

Periodically it can become plugged. When that happens, run an auger or long snake down the vent until the obstruction is removed, then flush it clear using a garden hose with the water turned on.

Oftentimes, the boot or collar dries out and cracks. Leaks can develop and rot the roof boards and ceiling below. You can tar around this pipe, but the tar also dries out. For under $10 you can buy a stack sleeve the easily slides down the vent, hugging it, while eliminating further leaks.

What law makes a drain work?

What law makes a drain work? The law of gravity. The basic idea of how a drain works is pretty simple. Water flows downhill, it starts from the high end and runs by gravity to the lower end through a pipe. While gravity will move water down a drainpipe it will not flow smoothly without a vent. A vent allows air into the drainpipe and gases out. The slope of the pipe is also important because to much and the water moves faster than the solids leaving them behind to build up and eventually causing a problem. Standard building code requirement for drainpipes is one-quarter inch of downward slope per foot of run.