My verbiage has been modifed and the new document is now posted at About Homes. The link in my previous post will take you to the modified document as will the link here:
Thanks for the additional knowledge and verbiage.
Thanks Michael,
“Loop vent” was a new term but your diagram was familiar.
I have to agree with Jeff about the wet vent. I don’t see how an AAV set up could be considered “wet vent” JMHO
“When” i quit?
You tryin’ to tell me something?
Just curious - since I have not encountered this yet. What would a monthly inspection of an AAV entail, and are all of them terminated in observable areas, or are they also hidden within walls behind cabinetry (for example)?
When I built my addition a few years back, to include laundry room, the AHJ told me to plumb in an AAV that was to be hidden in the wet wall. He signed off on it with no problems and the drain works wonderfully.
Hope this helps.
Dave
Your AHJ aside I thought they needed to be accessible for inspection.
How else would you know you had one or if it was functioning correctly?
Any other opinions on this?
Correct. They are required to remain accessible. The AHJ made the wrong call.
I am located in rural alabama and the county that I inspect in has just within the past two years started inforcing codes. This was on a condo that was built in 98 with no code inforcement at the time. How should I report this to my client?
Kenneth,
Don’t forget that a HI is not a code inspector. Is the drain working properly? If so, move on. It’s really of no concern if it meets code or not (I’ll probably take some heat for that comment) as long as it operates properly.
JMO
Dave
Because they are so easy to damage, and because they fail quite often in my neck of the woods, when that happens, it is quite common for moisture damage to occur in the area of the AAV. After all, the moisture is only four inches below the “wet vent.” And undetected moisture leads to mold growth.
And we all know what mold leads to, especially if we don’t educate our Clients.
I’m not justifying the term “wet vent” because I call it an air admittance valve. However, I have heard it called a wet vent, and I like to cover all my bases, so if I know that someone has called it something, even if wrongly, I like to let my Clients know that “sometimes” it is known by other terms. I go out of my way to use language that my Clients might hear on a daily basis.
This could turn into a main panel/service equipment debate, but I have never heard an electrician in my neck of the woods, in talking to me or my Clients, ask me where the “service equipment” is. Every time an electrician calls me about questions relating to rewiring or running additional circuits, they always ask me where the “main panel” was located. I’m always able to tell them. Notwithstanding that fact, I do let my Clients know that “main panel” is “sometimes” called service equipment.
Anyway, nothing will change the fact that I have heard the AAV “sometimes” called a “wet vent” so I do let my Clients know that. Now that I have heard people call it a “cheater vent” and a “flutter vent,” I shall let my Clients know that, as well.
This is a portion of my narrative for AAV’s
AAV’s are a mechanical component, and as such, they are subject to failure over time. Failure of these mechanical vents may allow sewer gases to escape into the living space which would result in potentially hazardous and unhealthy conditions. If, at any time, you notice an odor consistent with waste or sewage, you should immediately contact a qualified plumber to evaluate the AAV.
To the best of my knowledge, they are supposed to be “readily accessible” or some such term. So a monthly inspection would be to look at the thing and make sure there is no moisture damage and mold growth in the immediate area. And for sink cabinets in bathrooms that are rarely used except when son comes home from three months away at college, open the cabinet and smell.
Other than localized moisture damage, mold growth, and smells, I don’t know. But those three items usually do it for me.
Well, yes and no.
Yes, we are not code inspectors, but the codes form the very foundation of our work. And we all know that the codes are merely the minimum requirements upon which to build something.
The AAV is supposed to be four inches above the joint with the drain. Do I call it out if it is 3½ inches? No, I don’t. Do I even pull all the storage and chemicals out of the sink cabinet so that I can actually measure it? No, I don’t. Do I educate my Clients about what they are? Yes, I do. I believe it is that education that will keep me out of court.
No problem with that.
When are you going to post the other portion?
It’s CA specific. That’s why I didn’t post it in its entirety.
The drain-waste-vent system (DWV) employs a mechanical vent, also known as an air-admittance valve or AAV. This application may have been approved by this local jurisdiction, however, you should be aware that this type of system is not recognized by California Building Officials as an approved plumbing-vent system. Although they may function as intended, AAV’s are a mechanical component, and as such, they are subject to failure over time. Failure of these mechanical vents may allow sewer gases to escape into the living space, which would result in potentially hazardous and unhealthy conditions. If, at any time, you notice an odor consistent with waste or sewage, you should immediately contact a qualified plumber to evaluate the AAV.
Exactly. An educated client is a satisfied client!
Kind of ironic, I haven’t seen one in a coons age, and after this was posted I run into some installed in a doublewide MH today.
Manufactured/mobile homes come standard with these. . .
It’s even better in its entirety. Being California-specific simply lets our other NACHI members see that they can use such language in their states where something non-standard is being used and/or approved. Thanks.
So you’re saying they weren’t an optional upgrade?
Why is that Jeff…so the wind isn’t blowing cabinets and sinks apart when their going down the road 75 mph?