Plumbing Stack Vents

[schmism]

So to recap; one single bathroom vent for all the bathrooms and most likely one single plumbing stack vent with a vent cover. Just two protrusions; one roof and one wall.

I was almost positive plumbing code dictated that vent access be within various linear feet of the trap. the distance rangeing from a couple of feet for 1.25" pipe upto 6' for 3".

there are also rules about horzontal runs to the vent and above certian heights above sinks etc.

makeing water flow down hill is the easy part, makeing it vent right is the hard part!

 

[dmccarty]

Skeeters are tough! When West Nile virus showed up in New York/Long Island, they noted that mosquitoes overwinter in subway tunnels. The mosquito would lay its eggs in the septic water, the larva always live in water.

I don't see oxygen being much of an issue. An old tire laying around with warm rain water full of algae in it cannot have much oxygen in the water. I don't know how common it is, but I would think it is possible with the right conditions.

Skeeters need air. No air and they are dead just like us. There is no air in a sealed tank. A tire is in the open air to collect rain water. Skeeter larvae have breathing tubes to get air. When we opened our septic tank there were no bugs in it.

Has anyone seen mosquitoes in their sealed tanks when it was pumped?

Later,
Dan

 

[dmccarty]

The septic tank fluid itself is what does not have oxygen. The space above the fluid in the septic tank portion not only has oxygen but is where other gases like methane and hydrogen form (both which can be deadly). So it's the fluid itself that is lacking oxygen.

Per the CDC: "All vent pipes on the house should be covered with window screening and secured with a hose clamp or a plastic cable tie (available at hardware stores). Any vent pipes and inspection ports for your septic leachfield should also be screened. It's easy and inexpensive!"

The vent pipes mentioned are vent pipes on the house. In addition they mention vent pipes on the septic leachfield should also be covered with screen.

Septic Tanks and Mosquitoes - West Nile Virus - Contra Costa Health Services

If you fall into a septic tank that has been sealed, you will die because of lack of air. I don't see how critters needing air can live in a seal septic tank. Now, if you really think this is a concern, you can do what I suggested in my first post and what is in your second link which is to put screen on the vent stack. Taint rocket science, it is cheap, and quick to do. I know there are no bugs in my tank so I won't worry about screens on the vents.

Our city house was on a public sewer and we had problems with mosquitoes but they were not from the sewer either. They were from all of the "containers" holding water in the neighborhood including gutters. Which is one reason our house does not have gutters.

Later,
Dan

 

[Pettrix]

One would have to take up that argument with the state health organization. According to them, mosquitoes can and do breed within septic tanks. Maybe it's not too common but it does happen.

 

[dieselscout80]

I am trying to design a new home that will keep the pests (scorpions, centipedes, crickets, etc) from coming inside the home. Here in AZ, scorpions, crickets, roaches, etc, mostly come in through the bathroom vent fan duct work that exit out the homes roof. I figured out a way to stop that in the new home by having the bathroom vent system all connect to a HRV system and then only have one side vent through the wall with a bug screen. VentZone Central Ventilation (requires flash to view) - iaqsource.com In addition to being a better design, it will also bring in fresh air into the home with the HRV. As this home will be VERY air tight.

Now for the next area, it's bathroom plumbing stack vents. Is it common to have roof rats, bugs or field mice try and enter through those plumbing stack vents? If so, what method can be used to stop them from going inside of those vents?

I put these on all my vents to keep leaves and critters out they also fit on 1.5" and 2" PVC vents.
Shop Amerimax 3" Aluminum Downspout Strainer at Lowes.com

 

[Tig]

I was almost positive plumbing code dictated that vent access be within various linear feet of the trap. the distance rangeing from a couple of feet for 1.25" pipe upto 6' for 3".

there are also rules about horzontal runs to the vent and above certian heights above sinks etc.

makeing water flow down hill is the easy part, makeing it vent right is the hard part!

Our code dictates that the trap is to be vented withing a certain distance. Roughly 1' for every 1/4" of pipe diameter. I think the idea is to avoid an air pocket resulting from pipe slope which is also 1/4" per foot. (Toilets have different rules.) After that, vent size/distance is all about the number and type of fixtures being vented.
I just built a house, with a single stack vent. It was quite a bit of effort code wise but I'm happy with the result.
On the subject of stacks freezing. Around here 3" stacks can freeze from the steam of showers. It's got to be pretty cold for that. We used to get that once in a while in Ottawa. Traps would gurgle until it warmed up. I remember one day hearing what must have been the ice plug thawing and plunking down into the bottom of the stack.