How an AAV or Air Admittance Valve Works in Plumbing

The AAV or Air admittance valve or at times called as auto vent, is the device connected to a fixture drain line. This had the mechanism that unlocks to admit the room air to the drain beneath the force of a negative pressure made by the water coming from the drain. With the negative pressure dissipated, this water in a drain trap can’t be siphoned off. The moment the water stops pouring and its negative pressure ended, an AAV device will automatically close to shun the sewer gas from coming into the room.

Are AAVs Permitted by Code?

The system on the utilization of AAVs differs widely from nation to nation. While the trend appeared to be toward slow acceptance of these tools, some state construction codes still don’t permit the air admittance valves being the replacement for conventional vents. Other states control the number of the AAVs that a particular house may use. Always verify with the local building inspections workplace for advices on what venting techniques are permitted.

Signs that you will need the AAV

Where it is permitted by code, the AAVs may be employed with any kind of fixture or sink. Some sinks will provide hints that the AAV is necessary. The sink that loudly gurgles, for example, or that one which drains gradually although there had been no clog issues, could be doing so due to the negative air pressure within the lines. The adding of an AAV usually resolved these issues. Particularly where there had been no direct link to a vent system, since it is usually the case in the sink island instances, installing the AAV can develop the occupation of the drain. When the drain has already the AAV, like symptoms will indicate that a valve has a need to change.

Installation of AAV Assembly

The design of the attachment will differ depending on its AAV; mostly come with the threaded adapter which is initially a solvent-glued on the vertical extension pipes, together with an AAV then threaded in this adapter. Wrap the pipe-seal tape near the male threads in the AAV just before screwing in the socket on a pipe adapter.

Attach a Drain Trap

A drain trap goes into place now in the typical trend, but instead of the trap arm matching directly into its opening for a branch drain. It may now fit on the sanitary tee wherein an AAV is being installed. Some forms of the transition fitting will be required to permit a trap arm to match the sanitary tee.

Unite a trap arm to a trap bend, but also leave a slip nut loose in this point. Glide the trap bend on the tailpiece of the sink drain, and then slide a trap arm to the sanitary tee installing. When a piece is aligned properly, tighten down every slip nut by using the channel-lock pliers.

You have to fill up a sink, and then rapidly drain it as you observe the fittings from under the sink and search for the leaks, and if needed, pulled any leaking slip joint with the channel-lock pliers.