All the washing machines are attached to the sanitary drainage system to avoid any smoke release in the living place.
If your washing machine is not appropriately cleaned ad vented, you can hear an abnormal noise or smell a pungent odor in your laundry area.
Studor vents Air Admittance valve (AAV) is a common name in home equipment without stretching vents to the outside of the house.
The studor vents’ function is to stop the water loss in the p trap by developing a negative air pressure in the pipe balanced by open air.
After reading this article, you will be able to know the usage of studor vents in your washer.
Can you use a Studor vent on your washer?
Indeed, you can install a studor vent on your washer drain. It is necessary to vent a drain pipe attached to your washer.
The studor vents’ function is to stop the water loss in the p trap by developing a negative air pressure in the pipe balanced by open air. That’s why it can protect your laundry area from the pungent smell and sewer odor.
You can refer to the following codes:
- International plumbing code (IPC) Section 917
- International Residential Code (IRC) Section P3114
- Different materials and techniques of the constant plumbing code Section 301.2
- The ANSI/ASSE regulates Air Admittance valves (AAVs) such as the Studor vent
- ANSI/ASSE 1050
- ANSI/ASSE 1051
- NSF 14
I suggest using A small studor vent for a single component attached to a drain pipe to avoid any smoke and fume discharge. The sizes of these pipes are 1 1/2 to 2 inches. Using pipe size 1 Air admittance valves in some administrations is illegal.
Make sure to analyze regional building codes for any restrictions in best conformity.
Why are you in need of a Studor vent?
You require a studor vent to prevent the p trap seal (water trap seal) against different pressures, due to which a water loss can happen, leaving your home filled with a lousy odor and pungent smell.
A water trap seal should be attached to the drain pipe in every fixture.
This trap keeps water in its curved part, sealing the drain and preventing sewer and pungent gases from entering the room.
Keeping the water in the drain is necessary to prevent high and low pressures in water due to stress in the pipe and the pressure of the atmosphere. A vent system attached to the fresh air is the most common method to protect the water trap.
For the protection of the water trap, installing a studor vent is an alternative option, and for its proper functioning, you should install it correctly.
Air admittance valve for a washer pipe
An Air admittance valve is a dome-like drain valve that maintains the balance of pressures in the drain system when the pressure goes below atmospheric pressure. AAVs is their abbreviation.
Studor Corp has been the biggest producer of AAVs in the world since 1986; that’s why they are called studor vents.
There are three most common types of Studor vent AAVs
1. Studor mini-vent
The mini-vent is explicitly made for a single fixture or venting a group.
2. Maxi vent
Maxi vent is used for stack venting, eliminating the requirement for an open vent drain through the roof.
3. TEC vent
Residential fixtures use TEC vents for places where the flame drop is the primary concern. Mini vent and TEC vent are made for drains of 1 and a half inches to 2 inches, while the maxi vent is designed for pipes of sizes three inches to four inches.
Working Of Studor Vents
A barrel-shaped top with a diaphragm which is usually closed makes studor vents.
When water runs from the water trap into the drain, lifting the diaphragm due to negative pressures produced by water movement makes the path for fresh air to proceed in the valve.
The air flowing into the unclosed diaphragm permits the water to move independently, preventing pipe consumption, siphoning, and pressure levels.
When the water flows stop, the valve again closes tightly, preventing air entry.
Shutting the spring valve prevents sewer fumes from rising and escaping into the room.
Where should I place the Studor vent of my washer?
You should install air admittance valves or Studor vents on the washer drain pipe; their size must be a minimum of 4 inches above. You can access them without any difficulty at any time for repair and maintenance purposes.
It will be better to install studor vents with access to grease-free, dust-free, and solvent-free air flow, as their primary concern is preventing the water trap.
Afterward, Install AAVs at the soil pipe’s last point with a branch’s help.
You must install studor vents AAVs vertically at 15 degrees. You can install it on a wall, but it should have unrestricted airflow. For this purpose, some producers made containers with a studor vent in a wall.
Method to install Studor vent
Studor vents have many options to vent your draining system. They have a variety of sizes to fit different pipes.
You can install them quickly or fix them with a professional’s help.
Requirements
- Safety gloves
- Measuring tape
- Hacksaw or pipe cutter
- PVC primer and cement
- Torpedo Level
- Felt tip pen
- PVC straight TeeTee
- Teflon tape
1. Check the minimum clearance
you should use tape to measure the length between the water trap and the standpipe. A minimum length of 4 inches should be between the Studor vent and the outlet of the p trap.
2. Measure, mark, and cut the pipe
With the help of a felt tip pen, mark the flat arm at a length of four or five inches from the water trap channel.
Remove the p-trap arm and cut the pipe at the mark with a hacksaw.
3. Attach a straight Tee
You must glue one straight tee flat to the waste arm’s main section using PVC pipe primer and cement.
Measure the distance between the flat end harbor of the Tee and cut the same length from the remaining part of the waste arm. Fix the remaining piece into the balanced position of the Tee.
4. Install PVC pipe on the erect harbor of the Tee
You should install a short 4 to 6 inches pipe with adhesive on the female threaded hub.
5. Install the AAV
It would be best to fix the threaded Studor vent with Teflon tape and adhesive.
6. Install pipe back
You must install the waste arm back onto the p trap again to erect the Studor vent faces upright.
A 15 degrees error can occur to the erect angle if it doesn’t work correctly.
Important points;
You should never go for paste because it may have chemicals that can destroy the threads.
Using Teflon tape only on the valve’s thread would be best.
How to use Studor vent AAV on your washer?
To install a Studor vent on your washer, run a one-and-a-half pipe up from a straight tee about 4 inches behind the 2-inch trap that terminates in the washing machine box. The horizontal web receiving the trap must be at least 3 inches long. Always select a high- Drain Fixture Unit (DFU) made for this.
Height of studor vent installation
You should install the studor vent at a minimum height of 4 inches above the fixture pipe. If you install it on the top floor, its size must be at least six inches above the installation on the roof.
You should consult a professional to install a studor vent who follows all the tips and tricks. If you install it without a professional’s help or following the pepper instructions, your studor vent may not work efficiently.
Method to test a studor vent
Using a manometer to measure the pressure to test the studor vent would be best. If you do not have this measuring instrument, another method exists to analyze the studor vent.
Take a cup and put the studor vent in it. If positive pressure is generated, the membrane closes and causes the AVV to remain on the surface.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Is there any smell in Studor vents?
There is no smell in Studor vents. Instead, their installation protects your room and laundry area from foul odors, pungent smells, and gases.
If it has any smell, it means the studor vent is not working correctly.
Is there any failure that can occur in a Studor vent?
Yes! Loss can occur in Studor vents. However, their making ensures their high quality of work and their efficiency. But its working efficiency can be affected by different temperatures and conditions.
Is there any need to replace the studor vents?
Studor vents must be replaced when they fail or are damaged due to an internal or external fault. It would help if you replaced a Studor vent to avoid the discharge of foul and pungent odors in your laundry area or room.
How much time can Studor vents work?
Five hundred thousand cycles are tested for Studor vents, which equates to 30 years of service without failure. Test of each valve proves that it can function efficiently and comprehensively.
Final thoughts
After reading this article, you have learned about everything in the studor vent in your washing machine. And we have provided all the details about how they function and how you can utilize them. You have to contact a trained professional if you need proper knowledge.
