Should I chop it off?

[MicraShed]

Should I chop my soil stack vent off?
Currently the sun is high enough for it not to be an issue with shade, but as the year wears on and the sun gets lower it might.....

 

[Guest123]

By all means cut it off, and enjoy the stink of shyte all around your house.

Soil stacks are that high for a reason.

 

[MicraShed]

Yeah, I know that, but I can swap the end for a one way air admittance valve vent cap (AAV) - in fact I could at a push move it to below the tile level of the extension roof by utilising an AAV....

 

[telectrix]

cut and re-route into the kids bedroom. stop 'em lying in bed all day texting.

 

[moggy1968]

just keep an eye on it and see how the shading looks later in the year. That may give you an idea how much, if any, needs lopping.
A lot of soil stacks are actually uneccessarilly high, probably because the installers couldn't be arsed cutting them off!

 

[JulianC]

Can't, as a rule, fit an AAV outside (they'll freeze up). Might be outdoor rated ones available but I've never seen one. You could maybe fit one within the single storey roof providing there's both access and clearance.

 

[Gary K]

hasn't this has come up before? Thought that one every 5 houses is required as a vent so you may be able to cap it below the level of the gutter

 

[SolarCity]

There actually are outdoor rated AAVs available now.

 

[MicraShed]

hasn't this has come up before? Thought that one every 5 houses is required as a vent so you may be able to cap it below the level of the gutter

I wondered about that - there are 9 houses including my own on the drain run, all with vented soil stacks. There is (just) 1m from the toilet to the underneath of the extension roof, so I could possibly put an AAV under there - of course if shading isnt really an issue with the stack then I wont bother.
I just wondered what everyone else thought as it was something that struck me whilst I was out enjoying my pipe* this afternoon.


*tobacco kind, not shyte hauling kind

 

[MarkieSparkie]

Building Regulations Approved Document H:2010 requires a minimum of 900mm of the stack above the top any opening into the building within 3m of the stack eg. windows, doors, air-intakes etc. It also states air-admitance valves should not be used external to the property or in dusty areas.

 

[sedgy34]

That's not going to affect the Pv dramatically I wouldn't bother unless you want a few bad smells too

 

[grandfortune]

Just cut it at the gutter height, you wont notice any difference.

 

[snowhead]

Cut the vent off altogether and cap it, you've wrecked the external appearance of your house with P.V on the roof, don't worry about making it smell as well.

 

[dansk]

Just move the panels to the extension roof - job sorted - lol

 

[sedgy34]

i got it!!!! cut it off and cap it yeh, then use your fit payments to hire a portaloo that way it wont smell and no shading jobsa goodun

 

[mydigitalhome]

Don't cut it ! Refer to Building Regs as "MarkieSparkie" comments

 

[BruceB]

......... It also states air-admitance valves should not be used external to the property or in dusty areas.

It is only a "should" so provided the manufacturer says the AAV is designed for external use then no problem from a building regs perspective.

 

[moggy1968]

Cut the vent off altogether and cap it, you've wrecked the external appearance of your house with P.V on the roof, don't worry about making it smell as well.

and your contribution to reducing your carbon footprint is?.................


actually, I quite like the look of a well installed PV array!

 

[mayfair]

If that pipe effects it that much, Im now convinced that all this PV is a load of crap.

 

[moggy1968]

thereby demonstrating your lack of knowledge of the subject!

 

[sedgy34]

i got it!!!! cut it off and cap it yeh, then use your fit payments to hire a portaloo that way it wont smell and no shading jobsa goodun

If that pipe effects it that much, Im now convinced that all this PV is a load of crap.

Mayfair!! Your in Spain?? You don't realise what your missing mate you could be coining it in where you are pal with solar

 

[Digon]

If you chop it and it gives problem smells then you can easily extend it back to its original length. Same goes if you sell up.
2 ft isn't going to make a lot of difference to how far a smell will travel when it's going down wind.
I trimmed mine back nearly a year ago and havent detected any smells coming into the window underneath.

7

 

[snowhead]

and your contribution to reducing your carbon footprint is?.................

Not taking holidays involving travel on planes.

Recycling for at least the last 50 years.

Not continually buying the latest "Fad" electronic devices just for the sake of having the latest "In thing".

and more.

I've no objection to P.v.

The objection I have is the way it's allowed to be dumped onto roofs with no regard for the overall appearance of the property.

Planners were up in arms clamping down on Stone cladding and Satellite dishes.

I've no objection to wind power, I'd have a 150mtr tower within site of my property without complaint.

If I had the right of complaint tho' I'd object to P.V as being currently fitted.

Flush with the roof line, yes, O.k.

.

 

[moggy1968]

Not taking holidays involving travel on planes.

Recycling for at least the last 50 years.

Not continually buying the latest "Fad" electronic devices just for the sake of having the latest "In thing".

and more.

not a lot then

I've no objection to P.v.
doesn't sound like it!

The objection I have is the way it's allowed to be dumped onto roofs with no regard for the overall appearance of the property.
it isn't dumped on, and this is a modern property. If were grade 2 listed or somesuch I could understand it, but this, really c'mon!

Planners were up in arms clamping down on Stone cladding and Satellite dishes.
eh???? the relevance is?

I've no objection to wind power, I'd have a 150mtr tower within site of my property without complaint.
eh????? wind turbines yes, PV no, where's the logic in that?!!!
If I had the right of complaint tho' I'd object to P.V as being currently fitted.

Flush with the roof line, yes, O.k.
Hmmn, that'll help panel cooling!! very inefficient those systems, then there's the cost, which will reduce the take up, and visual benefit, well, minimal really, unless it's slate.

altogether a rather bizzare rant!

 

[MicraShed]

If I had the right of complaint tho' I'd object to P.V as being currently fitted.

Flush with the roof line, yes, O.k.

.

I dont find PV objectionable to look at, in fact I find it less visually intrusive than a wind turbine. Not that I have objections to wind power either.
I understand there are plenty of people who will, but the way I look at mine is I have black panels on a black roof on the back of the house. Its not "in your face" to look at.
I actually find the TV aerials that I have had to shift from the loft to outside more ugly to look at thanks to the Faradays cage effect of the panels when wet.

 

[siwhite]

Personally I think PV should be compulsory on all new builds.

 

[JulianC]

With ya there aer kid!

 

[SolarCity]

If that pipe effects it that much, Im now convinced that all this PV is a load of crap.

Not a very scientific way of looking at things, is it?

If you could improve the fuel efficiency of your car by half a mpg simply by carrying out a 2 minute procedure, this certainly wouldn't mean that cars are 'a load of crap', would it?

 

[snowhead]

I see you're a seller of Solar then.
I assume you have a roof full.
Have you tried asking all your neighbours who can see your roof their views on what it looks like, you'll be surprised how many are not impressed with it.

I've no objection to P.v.
doesn't sound like it!

I repeat I have no objection to P.V or any other form of power generation be it green nuclear or whatever.

I REPEAT, The objection I have is the way it's allowed to be dumped onto roofs with no regard for the overall appearance of the property.
it isn't dumped on, and this is a modern property. If were grade 2 listed or somesuch I could understand it, but this, really c'mon!

Planners were up in arms clamping down on Stone cladding and Satellite dishes.
eh???? the relevance is?
Obviously lost on you as you gain financially from dumping panels on roofs.

I've no objection to wind power, I'd have a 150mtr tower within site of my property without complaint.
eh????? wind turbines yes, PV no, where's the logic in that?!!!
Lost on you again, but think about it, a turbine is designed as a complete structure to be visually as pleasing as it can be considering it's size.
You won't see a turbine owner allowing P.V to be strapped to the side of it.


Flush with the roof line, yes, O.k.
Hmmn, that'll help panel cooling!! very inefficient those systems, then there's the cost, which will reduce the take up, and visual benefit, well, minimal really, unless it's slate.

As with P.V at the point it's at now and with countless other ideas and systems in the past, not just energy, the more popular it becomes the more affordable the price becomes.
If all P.V had have been under planning controls as every other aspect of a building is, by now a P.V system would have been developed and available with the same outputs and at the same price as at the current panels.

Cars have gone from average 25mpg to well into the 60's mpg purely because of emisisons legislation.
If it has to be done it can and will be done.

altogether a rather bizzare rant!.
Not a rant, originally just a constructive comment.

 

[snowhead]

Its not "in your face" to look at.

It's in your neighbours faces.

 

[MicraShed]

It's in your neighbours faces.

My nearest neighbour at the rear (looking at my house) is 850 yards away. Hardly in their face.
NOT that that had any bearing whatsoever on my decision to buy PV. People across the fields didnt consult me when they got PV, so I didnt consult them.

For my side by side neighbours to see it they have to walk down to the bottom of their garden and look up at the roof. Given that there are nicer things to look at in their gardens, and given that both immediate neighbours have asked me for details on the install company and what sort of income Im generating and how much difference it has made to my energy consumption from the grid, I kind of assume they are not bothered.

Again its one of those things that different people see in different ways. Clearly you dislike PV installs that sit proud of the roofline. But I would rather see a hundred houses with a neat PV install than one waste reprocessing power station (we have one of those locally too and let me tell you that when the filters need changing the smell is incredibly unpleasant).

 

[telectrix]

one waste reprocessing power station (we have one of those locally too and let me tell you that when the filters need changing the smell is incredibly unplea


obviously, they must have chopped the chimney off short.

 

[ktech]

If's it's bothering you simply get an outdoor rated AAV - these are available and work well. The ducting is not to vent but to prevent negative presure the AAV solves this.

 

[leexgx]

seem like just trimming it down is all that's needed (like one of the other users posted on here, just keep bit of the pipe if the smell does put the pipe back up) if you have got Power optimizers on the PV install then only that panel will be affected by the shade not the whole system

the user coming on here not liking PV is his own option, would i care if my next door neighbour did not like them no (there not there for just looks they have an use, saving me money and making power)

 

[SolarCity]

I see you're a seller of Solar then.
I assume you have a roof full.
Have you tried asking all your neighbours who can see your roof their views on what it looks like, you'll be surprised how many are not impressed with it.

And what evidence do you base that on?

 

[moggy1968]

sounds like sour grapes to me!

 

[Simpsod1]

If you spend time looking at your neighbour's roofs you really have too much spare time!!

 

[ESP]

Back to the origional question! I would just leave it as it will not affect the output by much and the risk of smelling poo all day is worse!

 

[The Solar King]

Only thing of note on vent pipes is if you have a WC in the attic space as you might with a loft conversion or a bungalow conversion. Top of soil pipe should be above top of WC pan so if whole thing blocks up, you don't get jobbies spilling on to the roof. (seems its OK to spill them in to the bathroom).

You will have to have bad drains to get bad odours from a vent pipe. Get up a ladder and have a good wiff. More likely to get a smell in winter when contents of flush are warmer than the outside world.

In general we shorten pipes where possible.

 

[Gavin A]

Only thing of note on vent pipes is if you have a WC in the attic space as you might with a loft conversion or a bungalow conversion. Top of soil pipe should be above top of WC pan so if whole thing blocks up, you don't get jobbies spilling on to the roof. (seems its OK to spill them in to the bathroom).

You will have to have bad drains to get bad odours from a vent pipe. Get up a ladder and have a good wiff. More likely to get a smell in winter when contents of flush are warmer than the outside world.

In general we shorten pipes where possible.

without putting an AAV on?

without an AAV they'd need to be 900mm above any opening window within 3m of the stack to be building regs compliant*.

also, most soil stacks are capable of releasing some proper stinks in the wrong conditions IME, and I've had a couple of installations that have been particularly unpleasant because of the stink coming out of the soil stack.



* I realise it doesn't actually say outdoor rated AAVs are allowed, but given that the manufacturers now sell versions specifically for outdoor use, it's pretty obvious that these should be allowed in situations where the vent is being lowered to within the 900mm zone above a window.