How to route a plumbing vent offset around obstacles
Shifting a plumbing vent pipe around obstacles requires cutting and rerouting using fittings like elbows while staying within building and plumbing code limits. Improper routing can make it impossible to snake the drain line later without breaking the fittings.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Using 45-degree bends or long-turn 90s, or relocating the sanitary tee to allow a straight vertical vent line.
- 2None discussed; installers and service plumbers currently lack a clear plan or understanding of how to snake the system safely.
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Ive always wondered whats gonna happen if someone has to snake a 3"+ drain on a provent stack.”source ↗
“Would they find out the hard way and break that fitting? Whats the plan?”source ↗
“As title says, can I cut this vent, put a 90 down in the crawl and up in the attic, to shift this vent over?”source ↗
“Would the correct move be to move tee that the shower drain trap and the vent sticks out of, back so that the vent goes straight up through the wall location?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 6Where do I run the vent for a washer installation?
- 3Why does the drain snake keep coming out the other drain?
- 2How to figure out correct plumbing and venting requirements for a remodel
- 2How to vent a relocated plumbing sink or drain
- 16How to figure out confusing plumbing and water flow directions
- 3How to route vanity plumbing to fit drawers