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Up Periscope!
This was a peculiar sight in a recent attic. This picture is of a plumbing vent pipe improperly terminating in the attic. In short, there are pipes sticking out of most roofs to allow water to drain quietly and smoothly when we flush toilet and pull stoppers on drains (see the next picture). This one didn’t quite make it.
Wondering what they are they for?
Have you ever flipped a 2-liter bottle of pop upside down and watched the glug-glug-glug as the liquid pulses out? Try that again and this time punch a hole in the bottom of the bottle – the liquid smoothly and quickly dumps. The same concept is seen in the party trick of pressing your finger over the end of the straw and lifting the suspended liquid out of your drink, then uncapping the straw to release it. This inlet allows air to replace the water as it moves through the drain pipes.
Problems with your plumbing venting will result in slow or convulsing drainage, funny noises as water drains and sewer-gases in the house. That was my concern about the vent terminating in the attic above. If you see open pipes sticking out of your roof – don’t worry. They’re suppose to be there!
