A Guide on How to vent a kitchen sink under a window

how to vent a kitchen sink under a window

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One of the perfect ways to do so is to vent your kitchen. Besides, this sink must be located below the window. If your kitchen sink under a window is not vented, relax. This article on how to vent a kitchen sink under a window covers the tips you need to follow to do this yourself. Keep reading to learn about this and many more.

How To Vent A Kitchen Sink Under A Window – Needed Tools And Steps

You don’t have to hire a professional plumbing contractor to vent your kitchen sink beneath a window. Doing so will save you a lot of money. Are you wondering how this is possible? Follow the steps below for excellent outcomes.

What You Need

Of course, the venting process cannot be successful if you don’t have the right tools. Therefore, you must get these necessities before beginning the process. Keep in mind that the absence of one of these essentials can make the process not proceed. And because this is not your desire, ensure you have the following tools beforehand.

  • Tape measure
  • PVC sanitary tee
  • Hack saw
  • Hole saw
  • PVC cement
  • Three long-sweep elbows
  • Drill
  • Instructions

Step 1: Prep

This is the first essential step you cannot overlook. Begin by cleaning your sink and removing anything distracting as you carry out the process. Make sure you can access the plumbing in your kitchen sink cabinet without challenges.

Use the kitchen sink’s water shutoff valve to stop water from flowing in the sink. That way, you can be sure you will work perfectly.

Step 2: Take the correct measurements and Install a sanitary tee

With a guarantee that the sink is free from distractors, proceed to install a sanitary to the drain pipe or drain line. But, this is only possible after taking the necessary measurements. It is advisable never to begin drilling or cutting anywhere, void of getting the right measurements. The initial place you need to get measurements is the distance to the primary vent.

After getting the measurements, it is now right to install the sanitary tee. Generally, a sanitary tee is a fitting whose role is to help you take two pipelines and comingle them into one. This installation is done at the hollow wall where the drain line begins using PVC cement. 

The tee must have measurements as per the waste hose’s measurements. For example, if your waste line measures 2 inches in diameter, It is worth using 2×2 inches PVC for the sanitary tee.

Furthermore, install 3-12 feet from the last point under the P-trap. This installation should ensure you have the proper measurement and distance.

Step 3: Assemble the PVC

Go ahead with inserting the PVC pipe once you have set in place the sanitation tee. And because you have the right working space measurements, this should be easy. At this point, you need to get the PVC cement. You have to attach the 1.5 PVC pipe to your installed sanitary tee. For the purpose of making the installation process easy, ensure you can see the port on the sanitary tee.

When these are set, bring in the sweep elbow. This should be done by connecting it to the pipe. Make sure it is safe and faces the wall. Using a strong adhesive can help put it in place.

Then, extend the extra line so it can be longer than your window. To make it more visible, it is advisable to consider extending the drainage line above the glass. Doing this allows you to get the proper vent slop. Hence, if the elbows are 2 feet apart, the vent line should stretch more than 12 inches.

Step 3: Make holes in the studs and make a cutting on the pipe

When at this point, be assured your vent is almost done. Here, make about 1.75-inch holes in the studs connecting the elbow to the vent. Furthermore, cut another 1 1/8-inch pipe between the elbows where the vent rises. Afterwards, thread it to the above holes. Also, use PVC cement to attach the elbow to the pipe.

Step 4: Wrapping up

In this step, stretch the vent to the attic to allow it to bring in the fresh air. You can do this through a small hall on your wall’s upper plate. This should be done to the actual measurements of your PVC. Make sure the new vent is horizontal to the central vent. Take your time to secure it, and you will be guaranteed to enjoy the fresh air in the kitchen.

Precautions While Venting a Kitchen Sink Under a Window

Even though you can vent a kitchen sink under a window, you must be cautious. Otherwise, you could cause more harm than good to your kitchen or yourself. Some of the precautions you need to consider are outlined below.

  • Deep excavation with heavy power equipment and tools is needed when venting a kitchen under a window. Failure to handle them correctly can lead to severe injuries. Thus, hiring an expert to do the task is a wise idea if you don’t believe in yourself.
  • Make sure the replacement window is energy efficient like the original one.
  • Before you begin the project, consider reading any disclaimer seriously. It has all the warnings you need to know concerning venting a kitchen sink beneath a window.

When venting the kitchen sink, ensure you are on your protective gear, such as goggles, dust masks and steel-toed boots. This will help protect you from accidental injury or breathing in the dust particles generated while doing the work.

Before venting, remove everything unnecessary from around the kitchen sink. Doing this helps you to access all the walls behind plumbing lines. Again, you will be better positioned to avoid any risk you may encounter when working close to them.

Advantages of Kitchen Sinks Sitting Beneath Windows

It is not mandatory to have your sink installed under the window. However, there are several reasons why it is considered there. Below are a number of them.

  • Light

Natural sources of light like the moon and the sun contribute to life by having the areas they reach illuminated. This is regardless it is during the day or at night. When the sun sets, there is no need to turn on your lights to work on your sink. The sunshine will stream through the window to allow this.

  • Look beautiful

Facing moving artwork near your windows can be a blessing. It is a gorgeous view of the cityscape or environment. You will not be staring at a plain wall when washing your dishes. But looking at the greens in your backyard is relaxing to the eyes. In addition, you can breathe clean air as you work on your utensils.

The capacity

If you work in a kitchen, you can attest to how beneficial it is to have a sink sit under the window. When the sink is below a window, you can be sure there are no racks or cupboards that will restrict your movements. Furthermore, you will not encounter challenges in washing oversized kitchen items.

Also, your sink can act as a vent. You realize some food leftovers smell so bad once left in some utensils, such as dirty plates. In this case, the window above the sink helps in the air circulation inside the room. On the other hand, the window help do away with the fishy odor you smell when washing fish or meat in the kitchen.

Another benefit of having the sink sit under the window is access to the kitchen plumbing. You can simply access the plumbing any time you want to check it up, fix or replace it. You will realize most sink pipes are usually near the outer wall.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does a kitchen sink need to be vented?

It is necessary to vent your kitchen sink. This is mainly if it is a busy kitchen where you or other people spend most of their time. The vents’ primary role is to ensure air remains consistent through the pipes. Therefore, water can flow easily through the pipe, void of foul odor. Sink vents prevent fat from sticking on the pipe walls or build-up of oil or debris.

Will the sink drain without a vent?

A sink that does not have a vent does not drain properly. This is possible, especially when you are working in a busy kitchen. A busy sink has the chance of creating negative pressure in the pipe. Thus, causing water blocking and trapping. Besides, it may lead to a bad smell across the kitchen. It is advisable to have proper drainage and ventilation.

Where in a sink should a vent be located?

A vent can be attached to the wall behind the fixture or the horizontal drain line. Once two fixtures are on different wall sides, you can connect them by a sanitary cross to form a stack. A shared vent is mainly found on sinks seated next to each other.

What happens if a sink does not have a vent?

When a building has drains systems that are poorly vented, you can be sure wastewater and solid waste will not be adequately removed. Hence, issues like overflowing drains, clogged toilets and many more may arise.

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