A plumbing loop vent is an important part of any home’s plumbing system, as it ensures proper airflow and pipe ventilation. Making one, however, requires a certain degree of expertise, so it’s best left to a professional plumber.

Regardless, in this guide, we’ll provide step-by-step instructions on how to make a plumbing loop vent in your home so you as a homeowner know what to expect when you have a licensed expert do the job. Let’s get started.

What is a plumbing loop vent?

Proper ventilation is essential for a comfortable living environment, and the odors from bathrooms and toilets can be quite unpleasant. That’s where the plumbing loop vent comes in. It’s designed specifically to ensure optimal air circulation throughout your home to keep it comfortable.

The vent loops around your home’s drain pipe and is situated in a way that allows gasses to be expelled outside. It’s designed in a way to ensure that fresh air circulates through the dry vent, with waste flowing into the drain pipe and wet vent.

Tools to make a loop plumbing vent

Here are the tools needed to start this project. A professional plumber will already have these on hand or will order them as needed to work on your home.

  • Measuring tape
  • A hacksaw
  • PVC glue
  • Vent piping (made of PVC)
  • 45-degree and 90-degree elbows and wyes
  • Sanitary tees

Steps on how to make a loop vent

Here are the steps on how to make a plumbing loop vent that a professional plumber will follow.

  • Map out what the structure will look like with a diagram

First, to be able to build the structure, you’ll need a visualization of what it’ll look like practically. Start by creating a scaled diagram of the loop vent structure, labeling each component and indicating the appropriate elbow and tee fittings for installation.

When labeling, make sure to include accurate measurements in accordance with standard plumbing codes. Take measurements of different components and available space to ensure precision in the diagram. For example, you might want to measure the length between the P-trap and stack vent, or the distance from the floor to the top of the vent.

Convert any calculations to millimeters to ensure accuracy.

  • Mark and cut the lengths of piping needed

To indicate the cutting points, use a pen, taking into account the necessary space for connectors. Then, carefully cut the pipe parts with a hacksaw, ensuring a clean and smooth finish by filing them down with sandpaper.

  • Establish a connection between the loop vent and P-trap

Using a sanitary tee for additional joinery, attach the plumbing loop vent to the P-trap using a joining part and PVC glue. The dual-open sides of the sanitary tee should be vertically positioned, with one end facing downwards towards the drain pipe.

Ensure the connection is tight to prevent leaks.

  • Construct the vent’s loop

Assemble the loop based on the measurements specified in the diagram.

To do so, attach a 45-degree elbow to the section of the sanitary tee going up. Create a curve by connecting a 90-degree elbow to the top end of the 45-degree fitting, then secure another 45-degree elbow pointing downwards.

Apply PVC glue to all joints, making sure everything is secured tightly to ensure it’s sturdy and reliable.

  • Connect the loop vent to the stack vent

Continue on from the opening of the loop, attaching the vent using a pipe going downwards. Then, affix an additional vent tee at ground level, with the dual ends of the vent tee positioned vertically.

At the jutting horizontal end of the vent tee, continue connecting the vent accordingly, whether that’s with additional pipes and a 90-degree elbow or a Y-fitting.

  • Connect the structure to the drain pipe

At the bottom end of the vent tee, attach a 45-degree elbow and an additional straight pipe, following the natural curve of the elbow to position the pipe at a slant. Then, use a 45-degree wye to finish off the connection.

This segment of piping will drain away water, preventing it from remaining in the dry vent.

Secure a vertical pipe at the bottom end of the sanitary tee from earlier and make the necessary connections to link the rest of the structure.

Need a plumber to construct your vent? Contact J. Blanton

While this step-by-step goes into detail on how to make a plumbing loop vent, it requires technical expertise to successfully coordinate all the steps and use the right parts. For this reason, you’ll want to hire a professional plumber for the job.

In this regard, J. Blanton is the best choice. We’ve been serving homeowners in the Chicagoland area for over 30 years, providing them with high-quality, cost-effective, and timely service.

Contact J. Blanton today!