Vent Pipe???

[Ryanfornkohl]

The black cast iron pipe to the left of the stack....is this a vent? It does not connect to anything other than the stack. It connects at the basement (also same pipe on left but is painted silver.) 53" above basement floor and runs parallel along stack until it rises 39" above finish floor and then ties back into stack. Is this a wet vent? I've been doing some reading and can't seem to determine what is going on. Long story short, starting to think I should have hired a licensed plumber before getting into this. Thanks

 

[Terry]

Okay, that's just weird.
It appears to be a vent that does nothing. What I see is two lavs that wet vent one over the other and then over the toilet and tub. That looks fine.
Thanks for posting the picture.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Ryanfornkohl]

Thanks for the quick comment! My co worker who used to draft mechanical plans was trying to tell me that that it was an essential part of the wet vent system. Anyhow, my plan is to replace the cast iron with pvc and he kept insisting that the pipe parallel to the vent needed to go back in too. Looks like I'll be leaving it out.

 

[Terry]

Okay, a question. I see at least one washer down below in the basement. How is that drained? And where is the vent for that?

 

[Ryanfornkohl]

I tried to upload a pic through my phone, but file size is too large. The washer's flex drain is routed into a 1.5" pvc pipe (to the left of the washer when facing) that is strapped to wall at 42" which dropps vertically along wall and then 90s horizonotal approx. 2' before 90-ing down to a floor drain.

 

[Terry]

The washer's flex drain is routed into a 1.5" pvc pipe (to the left of the washer when facing) that is strapped to wall at 42" which dropps vertically along wall and then 90s horizonotal approx. 2' before 90-ing down to a floor drain.

I would consider installing a washer drain off of the stack, and venting that using the "vent" that you have now. Or if going with plastic, then revent on the next floor at 42". Either way, the washer would revent on the floor above.

 

[Ryanfornkohl]

I would consider installing a washer drain off of the stack, and venting that using the "vent" that you have now. Or if going with plastic, then revent on the next floor at 42". Either way, the washer would revent on the floor above.

Thats a good idea, thanks. I will incorporate that into my plan. I got so focused on other things that I didnt consider doing that.

 

[Ryanfornkohl]

I would consider installing a washer drain off of the stack, and venting that using the "vent" that you have now. Or if going with plastic, then revent on the next floor at 42". Either way, the washer would revent on the floor above.

Okay, that's just weird.
It appears to be a vent that does nothing. What I see is two lavs that wet vent one over the other and then over the toilet and tub. That looks fine.
Thanks for posting the picture.

Maybe an attempt to "back vent"? Attached is a link on back venting.

Okay, that's just weird.
It appears to be a vent that does nothing. What I see is two lavs that wet vent one over the other and then over the toilet and tub. That looks fine.
Thanks for posting the picture.

Possibly parallel pipe is "back venting". Attached is a link on back venting.

link architecture/Construction-House/The-More-Complicated-Back-Vent-System.html

 

[Ryanfornkohl]

Okay, that's just weird.
It appears to be a vent that does nothing. What I see is two lavs that wet vent one over the other and then over the toilet and tub. That looks fine.
Thanks for posting the picture.

Just wanted to give an update in case someone else stumbles across this:

I spoke to the code officials last week here in St. Louis. They asked when my house was built and I told them in the 50's. They said that a vent pipe like this was common during that era. He explained that this pipe was added so that someone may tie into the system for future expansion of dwv.