Plumbing question

[RepairNovice]

I'm doing some work on my sump pump pipes. First time in almost ten years.

I have a couple of questions concerning an air vent.

One reason why I'm doing this work is to stop the pipework from banging when the sump pump stops and the water starts to flow back down the pipes.

I may have acted too fast in doing some of the work but just want to check here to see if might still be OK.

The check valve is located about two or three feet above the pump. The pipe leaves the house at a height of about seven feet or so above the check valve.

Is it OK to have the air vent about five feet above the check valve?

Is there an optimal height for the air vent to be located in relation to the check valve?

TIA

[hrhofmann]

My system here in Illinois, USA does not have an air vent, neither did eitherof my systems when I lived back in New Jersey. How is the vent connected?

Bob Hofmann

[RepairNovice]

Well, when I installed it this evening I was trying to kill two birds with one stone.

I had a hole in the ABS piping with a small tube running into it (long story). I wanted to cut out the hole section and at the same time install this air vent.

I cut about three or four inches of pipe, enough to be replaced by the pipe fitting and air vent. The air vent fitting is now standing upright as I was told it should.

It is located approx. 5 feet above the check valve and I'm hoping that this distance is OK.

This is approx. what it looks like, if this drawing comes through OK: | | | | | | | | | | / / | | / / | / / | / | / | | | | | |

TIA

[CL "dnoyeB" Gilbert]

That's very odd. Which way does the water flow? This is the water leaving the sump and exiting the house right? Wouldn't the water just flow right out of the air vent? Whats the point of an air vent here?

My setup also does not have an air vent. But I did add a clean-out pipe to it that should hold some air which should reduce the hammering a bit. Not sure how well it works for that purpose.

clean-out plug __ exit house \\ \\ | | \\ \\ | | \\ \\ | |

--- ---------------| | | --------------------| | | | | | | pump

[S. Barker]

what air vent?

s

[RepairNovice]

Sorry, maybe I haven't named the device properly. You can take a look at the part at this site:

It's called an 'in line vent'.

[RepairNovice]

| | /\\ | | | Water flow | | | | | | | | / / (In line air vent) | | / / | / / | / | / | | /\\ | | | Water flows this way | |

I have added info to the diagram above. I wondered about water going through the air vent too. But the guy at the store explained that it has a special shut-off valve to prevent water flowing through.

[S. Barker]

they are called an 'air admittance valve' the whole purpose is to allow air in and not vent water or gasses out. BUT one is not needed on a sump pump setup.

s

[trader4]

I've never seen one of these used in this fashion. As some others have said, I too have had sump pumps with no air vent. However, I have heard of them being used. The concept is that with some sump pumps, if you have a check valve, during dry spells, the pipe between the sump pump and check valve will drain and become filled with air. When water returns and the pump goes to start, some may not prime and pump because they are air locked by the air between the pump and the check valve. To solve this, a small hole is drilled in the pipe to allow air out. It's drilled in a location so that when water flows it will stay in the sump hole. So, you have a small leak back into the hole when the pump is running but it's acceptable.

That's the only venting issue I've ever heard of with sump pumps. And I've had pumps that never had any air vent at all and worked perfectly. I'd read the install manual for the pump you have and/or website. And if there is any reason for a vent other than the above, I'd like to hear it.

[CL "dnoyeB" Gilbert]

Oh OK. Well there is no purpose of an air vent there. I suppose if you don't have a vent at the topost point of the pipe, that vent could help empty the pipe under certain circustances. To me its just a point in the syste just waiting to fail and spill water all over your basement. I would seal it off.