Maintenance Guides / Plumbing & Water

Inspect roof vent stacks

Difficulty: moderateTime: 30 mins

Why it matters

Bird nests and ice block vents, causing slow drains, gurgling, and sewer gas indoors.

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How to do it

  • 1

    From the roof, locate all plumbing vent stacks (2-4 inch pipes).

  • 2

    Inspect each stack top for bird nests, leaves, or ice.

  • 3

    Insert a plumbing snake 2-3 feet down if no visible blockage.

  • 4

    Remove debris by hand wearing gloves.

  • 5

    Install roof vent guards to prevent future nests.

  • 6

    Check drains and listen for gurgling to verify clear vents.