Check Vents

[Pete Masterson]

Might simply be a sticky vent or a weak spring that allows it to stay
open for a time ... then some other movement through the pipes (say,
in the bathroom) forces some foul air out (eventually closing the
valve). Might simply try a replacement -- a new valve might either
not stick or have a stronger spring (or whatever else may ail the
valve).

It actually doesn't take much air to break the vacuum. I worked in a
very old building some years ago and we had a drinking fountain that
often failed to drain. After taking some standard steps to clear the
drain (that didn't work), the maintenance guy drilled a 1/16" hole in
the top of the drain pipe near the p-trap. Problem solved. We never
got any bad odors, but then there may have been other, more effective
vent lines elsewhere that took care of that. Apparently, the drain
line to the fountain simply didn't have enough venting to allow it to
drain properly.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Lockhart Texas



On May 27, 2007, at 12:35 PM, Leroy Eckert wrote:

> Thanks, Pete:
> Your post make perfect sense to me. Apparently these vents open
> very quickly and minutely when the water is draining. Otherwise I
> would think an odor could occur just as if one were stuck open??
> Mine seem to be operating fine as the phenomenon does not occur often.
<snip>