Illinois Plumbing Code & Venting

user59176

I am a Illinois Licensed Home Inspector.

On a recent inspection, I noticed the kitchen sink is not vented. The house is a flip house. The interior has been remodeled with new cabinets, fixtures, flooring, and drywall. I called the plumber that installed the sink for the current owner (flipper). He confirmed what I suspected - no vent. He told me that since the wall was not exposed during remodeling, the new (replacement) sink drain did not need to be vented or in other words brought to code. I think he is wrong.

Also, he reused the 1.5 inch galvanized pipe as a drain. I asked if this is common, he also said "yeah, in older homes". I have never seen galvanized iron pipe used as a drain.

Will someone please tell me if he is right or wrong?

Anti-wingnut

It was common to use screwed galvanized iron-pipe for DWV back in the day. As for not having a vent, probably was never allowed, but could have been in some areas. But since it was a replacement, the plumber could argue that he was not violating any codes. Since the galvanized pipe indicates that a sink has been at that location since dinosaurs roamed the earth, attempting to pressure either the plumber or seller into adding a plumbing vent system is likely a non-starter.

Can you demostrate that the sink previous existing sink was installed without a permit? The plumbing dates it to the 40's to 60's, so the records are not going to help you. Chalk it up to a grandfathered installation and worry about something else.

Edit to add: And how could you tell that it was not vented? According to you, the walls were already rocked.

An arguement could be made for requiring a AAV, but I wouldn't push too much, your lack of knowledge about the galvenized pipe doesn't speak volumes about how skookum savy you are about plumbing

user59176

Wingnut,

I never claimed to be a plumber let alone a savvy one. I have seen enough situations to say that using galvanized pipe for a drain is not common.

As far as the vent, the water gurgled when draining from the sink, which is an indication of a lack of vent whether absent or plugged. Do you think I just guessed? I confirmed my "suspicion" with a call to the plumber. All I want to know is whether a licensed plumber should have brought the drain to code. I would have bet "yes". Now with your answer and that of the plumbers, I assume I would have lost the bet - not the first time. Now that I think more about it, I guess if the owner hires a plumber and tells them to only install a sink, the plumber isn't obligated to tear out the wall and run a pipe through the roof.

Do you not like inspectors? Thank you for the reply BTW.

Anti-wingnut

I talked to my father who ran a large plumbing and heating company in the fifties and sixties, as well as instructing for the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters. In the forties to sixties, whenever cast-iron DWV systems were used, screwed galvanized iron pipe was the choice for all runs of less than 2" IPS. It was cheaper to use iron pipe than cast for these smaller sizes due to lesser labor. So in older systems, galvanized pipe is very common. So maybe you still haven't seen enough situations


You are hired for an "expert" opinion. You should know this, and not have to "think" about it

Yes

user59176

Wow, you're an ass. Welcome to the forum, huh?

I am not hired to quote the plumbing code. I am hired to provide a visual inspection of the home, which states that the kitchen sink is not vented.

Anti-wingnut

OK then?

BCConstruction

Just as an example i have seen hundreds of homes in my years of plumbing that have had no vents and been fine. Normally the only time not having a vent is a problem is when the waste pipe was undersized. If it's been the way it has for so many years then it should still work fine. If your traps are sucking dry then worry about it. If not then a vent is pointless. As long as you have at least one vent to atmosphere and all traps are staying wet and flushing toilets are not pulling air through traps then the plumbing works.

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ILPlumber

You are not qualified to inspect plumbing in IL. Only Certified Plumbing Inspectors licensed by IDPH can inspect plumbing.

user59176

Thank you for the information, but I am not performing a plumbing inspection in the strictest sense. I am observing then reporting what is or isn't there at the time of my inspection. I make no recommendations as to how to fix problems. I recommend consultation with qualified contractors and professionals.

ILPlumber

Like I said. You are not qualified to "observe and report" **** about the plumbing. You are selling the homeowner/real estate agent a full home inspection under the guise of, "I inspected/looked at the plumbing system. Everything checked out." You wouldn't know if it violated the code or not (other than obvious things any Joe off the street could see) because you are unqualified.

bwalley

You are performing plumbing inspections as soon as you start bringing up questions about the lack of a vent.

How do you know it isn't revented?

What kind of license does Illinois require to be a licensed home inspector?

Is it a license you buy or is there some proof of knowledge and testing required?

user59176

O.K. I will quit.

Anti-wingnut

There are two kinds of asses: asses, and dumb asses. Thanks for the vote of confidence


Quit what? Working? Inspecting? Asking dumb questions? Proffering your faulting knowledge about plumbing?