How Do Air Admittance Valves Work?
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Trent , Alison – When using AAV – we need at least one vent from the plumbing system to push through the roof. STUDOR AAVs installed in attic area must be located a minimum of six (6”) inches above the ceiling insulation. The vent shall connect to the drain vertically to maintain an unobstructed opening in the piping to the STUDOR AAVs. Some state and local building departments prohibit AAVs.
A maximum deviation for plum of 15 degrees is allowed. US manufacturers offer warranties that range from 1 year to “lifetime”. You’ll want to seek out the warranty info.
Why are Air Admittance Valves Necessary?
They usually mount on one branch of a sanitary tee, with the other branch going to the drain. This must be all done according to your local codes and the instructions by the maker. Individual and branch air admittance valves shall be located not less than 4 inches above the horizontal branch drain or fixture drain being vented. Most residential building drainage systems are vented directly through the building’s roof.
Air Admittance Valves — also called cheater valves, mechanical vents, and even durgo valves — are mechanical devices that provide you with a one-way venting system. They allow air to enter your drain as the water disappears. No vent shall terminate in an attic unless it is well ventilated and/or is working independently of the house .
What is an Air Admittance Valve?
That’s money in the pocket for the plumber. They also allow greater flexibility in the layout of plumbing fixtures, and reduce long-term roof maintenance. If we don’t have a hole in the roof, it’s easier to maintain the roof. AAVs have been effectively used in Europe for more than two decades.
His report was very user friendly and detailed, and the photos and videos were very valuable. We would recommend him highly and without reservation to any prospective home purchaser. We would never have known about these issues and would have made a huge mistake without Gary's professional help. The air admittance valve shall be installed not less than 6 inches above insulation materials where installed in attics. An AAV can significantly reduce the amount of venting materials needed in a plumbing system.
The Pros
Only Teflon® tape can be used on the valves’ threads. Use of primer, solvent cement or pipe dope will void the STUDOR warranty. Repair or replacement of faucet components, rather than replacement of the entire unit, saves money and resources. Zurn's 1.5 GPM vandal-resistant slim-fit male aerator outlet (Part no. P ES) is made for AquaSense sensor faucets. Zurn sensor faucets contain an infrared proximity sensor that accurately detects the user for precise hands-free operation. When you need a replacement part for repair or maintenance of a faucet, trust Zurn for genuine, reliable parts.
The temperature ranges that the Sure-Vent will operate in are -40°F to 150°F, your attic can experience drastic temperature variations depending on how it is vented and your geographic location. Insulation fibers can get caught inside the diaphragm which will make it harder for the diaphragm to open, or achieve a good seal when it is in the closed position. The Sure-Vent should be installed a minimum of six inches above the finished height of your insulation, and the attic must have an access point to conduct scheduled maintenance. Seven hours away and at a disadvantage in not being able to be on site and look closely ourselves. We really liked the house and were anxious to close, however Gary's eagle eye pointed out several significant issues that gave us pause. He was very professional in his reporting and tried to lay out the facts as he saw them in plain english.
thoughts on “VENTING 101 – Air Admittance Valve Pros and Cons”
If you are currently using Internet Explorer we recommend you switch to Edge or another supported browser to enjoy the best experience Oatey.com has to offer. The Sure-Vents are not designed for exposure to Ultra Violet Rays. Oatey® offers a wide range of Sure-Vent® Air Admittance Valves to enable installation in virtually any application.
Locating the valve in a sink or vanity cabinet is acceptable. In addition, before installing an air admittance valve to your plumbing system, check with your local building department to ensure using an AAV in your home is up to code. Here is the plumbing code for Ohio.
See the white pipe on the roof at left. The plastic pipe is “flashed” or sealed at the roof penetration to prevent rainwater from leaking into the building. Both loft walls, 1 with with wood tongue & groove and the other with an added large closet would have to be demoed out to get to each attic space area. Most homes vent directly through an opening on the roof of their house.
The very essence of a vent is to prevent siphon and vacuum forces in building up in the system, it is also to provide an exit for the gases produced in the system. The AAV’s only function is to avoid costly installation of complicated vent system for isolated/difficult fixtures. Unless you want sewer gases entering your home when your plumbing is under positive pressure, you’ll want a venting system. And AAVs are mechanical devices that can accomplish the task easily. Magic Vent prevents siphonage without the need for additional piping outdoors. It also performs the function of a DWV system vent stack, protecting the trap seal from siphonage without the need for additional piping to the outdoors.
I would like to know the answer to Trent Spivey’s question — is there a new plumbing code that allows for all plumbing vents to terminate in the attic with aav devices installed. When a horizontal branch connects to a stack more than four branch intervals from the top of the stack. The relief vent must be located between the connection of the branch to the stack and the first fixture connecting to the branch. The relief vent may also serve as a vent for the fixture. Likewise, they equalize the air pressure in your pipe, which allows them to drain properly and prevent those sewer gases from getting into your living space.
With its compact design, the STUDOR Mini-Vent Air Admittance Valve with PVC Adapter offers a simple drain and waste venting solution. Great for venting a single fixture or a group of bathroom fixtures, the Mini-Vent air admittance valve is designed to fit 1-1/2 in. Pipes and excels in tight applications. This 1-way valve automatically opens and takes in fresh air when negative pressure occurs from a fixture discharging into the plumbing system. When the water flow stops, the Mini-Vent closes naturally due to gravity, preventing the circulation of any bad bathroom or drain odors. Designed for residential and commercial use, the STUDOR Mini-Vent Air Admittance Valve can be used in conjunction with other STUDOR AAVs to complement larger high-rise building drainage systems.
The Maxi-Vent® must be installed six (6”) inches above the highest flood level rim of the fixtures being vented in stack applications. We immediately respond to and handle anyemergency plumbing,drain cleaning, andwater damageproblem, includingexcavation of underground water lines and sewer main lines. Overall, if you believe the vents in your home does not work as it should, we strongly recommend calling a plumber to at least assess the situation. Smelly, toxic gases in the home are no laughing matter. An example of a sanitary tee vs another kind of plumbing tee called a Wye tee. Notice the sanitary tee has two branches coming off each side.
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