AboutCortez (cort) Cate Expertise I can answer most questions related to residential and commercial plumbing for buildings up to ten-stories in height. I have excellent knowledge of the UPC, Uniform Plumbing Code and UMC, Uniform Mechanical Code. In the event there is a question I am not sure of I will at least let you know what I think and try to give you realistic options. Some problems are unique and may not have a simple answer. In those cases I will try to give you all the variables I know of.
Experience Since 1972 a California licensed B-1 General Building Contractor, C-36 Plumbing and C-16 Fire Sprinkler Contractor; also installing and servicing Heating, Air Conditioning and Sheet Metal operating as C and C Building and Plumbing, California State License 279516. In 1995 I downsized the company to become semi-retired. Still I remain active in the construction industry.
As head of a company I placed personnel and job safety as the number one objective followed closely by training and continuing education. Always seeking to stay informed of leading edge technology in the industry.
Also I have spent several years as an Apprenticeship Instructor in the Pipe Trades Unions.
Additionally I am a certified OSHA instructor.
Question I live in Pittsburgh and I am not sure about something I thought and hope you can help me with this. In my house I have a fresh air vent in the roof, but there is also one in my garage. Most of the plumbers would call it either a fresh air vent or a clean out vent. It is in the garage due to prior owners building the garage over it. All of the other houses around have this vent outside of the dwelling. I do not know if the way mine is done is in code or not I would like to know in case I would sell my house I would need to change it. A little more info the garage is built attached to the house but it has no door entry to the inside of the house(I don't know if that matters or not)
Answer Hi Jeff,
Your question is not completely clear to me; it sounds as though it may be a HVAC area question more than a plumbing question. Fresh air intake-vents fall in the HVAC category and while I would be happy to answer I am not certain of what you are talking about. Still, I will take a stab at it and see if we can help.
A clean-out in plumbing terminology is an opening into a drainage system (constructed from pipe) to allow the introduction of some mechanical device to remove an obstruction in the drainage system. Generally a plumbing vent refers to a pipe that allows the lighter than air sewer gases to escape into the atmosphere and also allow air to circulate in the drainage system for purposes of maintaining a balanced system preventing siphonage from occurring.
If you are referring to something such as a gable-vent or dormer-vent that allows air circulation in an attic or a garage then there should be no problem associated with that as you describe; excepting that there are minimum requirements (square inches of ventilation to cubic feet of area) that vary slightly within geographic jurisdictions.
If, however, you are referring to an open pipe that connects to a sewer system then that pipe should discharge above the roof and a minimal distance from any fresh-air intake or window (generally 4-10-feet from such opening but it must not allow the sewer gases to flow back into the fresh air intakes under any circumstances). If there is an open pipe in your garage it should either be capped off or extended to a point above the roof and clear of any fresh air intake. Call your local building department and they will generally tell you what they would expect.
