I need a suggestion for another issue. I have had a sewage smell in my guest bathroom for a couple of weeks lately. On the roof of my house there is a vent pipe above each bathroom, but is not tied into the bathroom lavs or the kitchen sink. Under each sink, the pipe terminates above the level of the trap, with a funny looking device at the end which has a rubber umbrella looking valve inside. The plumber called this device a vaccuum break, and says it doesnt cost but about $5 for a new one, and just screws in. The rubber in the vaccum break under my bathroom sink has crumbled and fell apart, allowing the sewer odor to come back up the pipe and into the house. My question is, do I need to put this same device back? Or can I extend a vent pipe from this line, and through the roof? I have full access to the area inside of the wall behind the sink, so running the pipe is no problem. It just seems like this would make better sense than having the vaccuum break under the sink anyway.
Rob
Rob