What can I do with Air Admittance Valve?

[bludger]

Hi,

I've bought a house with a very small separate toilet. Alongside the throne is a three foot high tubular device with slots in the top. I can only assume that it is an air valve of some sort.

It is about 4" diameter and very ugly and I'd like to get rid of it. Or, substitute something else. Any ideas please?

Could, for instance, I substitute a much thinner pipe that just exits through the wall to the outside?

I've taken a couple of photos but don't know how to include them in the post.

 

[denso13]

//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=129539

 

[bludger]

Untitled

• bludger
• 29 Sep 2012
• 1

 

[bludger]

Well, that was a bit of a struggle. How I got the snap horizontal I don't know.

Anyway, anyone can now see why I want to do something about this ugly brute of a pipe.

Thanks for your help, denso13

 

[45yearsagasman]

Box it in and fit a louvred vent. You could then stand the bottle on top

 

[nickjb]

It's not pretty, is it? Paint it the same colour as the walls or box it in.

 

[polesapart]

You could lower it. It should be fitted above the spillover height of the highest appliance connected which in this case is the basin: however if fitted to just above the level of toilet pan it is highly unlikely that the discharge from the basin waste (less volume than a w.c. flush, and discharging more slowly) will ever be a problem. Then fit box with louvre as above.
As to removing it altogether: it depends. If fitted on the ground floor with certain drain configurations it might prove to have been fitted by an over-cautious (and very correct) plumber; the way to test would be to remove the upstand from the branch and fit a 110mm plug in its place and try the effect on the wc flush. Chances are though that you will then discover why someone went to the trouble of fitting it!

 

[polesapart]

Disregard second part of above post: I hadn't paid attention to to the basin waste connecting in.
I still think that if the bottom of the AAV is above the spillover i.e. top of pan you'll be oK

 

[Charnwood]

Never mind the Durgo, move the towel.
When flushed a loo can emit contaminated spray for around 2 metres.

No point washing your hands and then drying them on a towel contaminated with you-know-what!

 

[bludger]

Thanks for your replies. I'm going to box the valve in this weekend and will leave the space under the pipe open as a vent.

I'll post a picture when the work is done.

 

[Charnwood]

And put a towel rail t'other side of the basin?