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RicodJour RicodJour is offline
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Default Cap for plumbing stack


Nexus7 wrote:
RicodJour wrote:
Nexus7 wrote:
The plumbing stack sticks out 2' from my roof. It is a 4" iron pipe (OD
is 4.66"). That's all there is, just the pipe sticking out. What kind
of cap, if any, is appropriate for it? I can get a cap that is made for

You don't need a cap unless you're having problems. Are you having
problems?


No problems (that I know of, anyway). I was thinking along the lines of
the furnace chimney, that got a new liner and a nice cap. They didn't
find any dead things in there either. However, as mentioned in this
thread, there is a possibility of a rodent or bird finding it's way in
there, and I get my neighbor's huge tree shedding its autumn glory on
my roof and yard, so something could get in there. Plus the snow which
I will pay to melt. Not a biggie, but if it doesn't hurt anything, I'd
rather have it capped.

Also, as mentioned in the thread, I thought of window screen mesh, but
I think the snow would block it off then.

Most of the stacks I've seen stick up about a foot. Is the 2' exposed
stack typical where you are?


I was up there today, and it is only about a foot. There was no
flashing around it either, so I used gutter caulk.


Back up there, hombre. There's _no_ flashing boot around your vent
stack? If that's the case that's a far bigger problem that a potential
blockage in the vent stack.

Using caulk does not work. It will fail. Far better to pull a few
shingles install the flashing boot and reinstall/replace the shingles.

While you're up there, put on a cap if it makes you feel better. Be
aware that the cap will prevent rain from falling into the stack which
will make it far more inviting to animals and insects. If you cap it,
make sure there's some screen as well.

R