Cess pitts and air vents - Does upstairs toilet soil pipe need vent

[youngretiredgardener]

I'm considering putting in an upstairs toilet but don't really understand the need for stacks and air vents? I have a downstairs toilet at present and the soil pipe from this goes straight into the ground and to a cess pitt via 2 inspection chambers on route. The cess pitt is also vented (poo!). Can i not just put the soil pipe from the new upstairs loo through the floorboards, down the wall and join it to the downstairs toilet soil pipe? or do i really need to make a big hole in my 15in solid concrete wall and install stack system with vent etc. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Cheers, Helen

[seanandruby]

Hi helen. Yes i'm afraid you will have to install a vent pipe and plumb into it. If you just drop it into your down stairs loo it will syphon your system and could damage your pipework, seals, make your downstairs loo overflow, let the gases back into your house It's all down to atmospheric pressure. Every system needs airflow to work.

[mickg]

you can install a durgo valve onto the new soil pipe, this lets air into the pipe when the toilet is flushed and then seals itself again.

[lutonlagerlout]

i do a lot of loft conversions and we normally use a durgo and replace the old cast with a new plastic system.
but generally speaking its better to have soil pipes outside the house than in
if you have them inside they need boxing in etc
LLL

[richie_jones]

Just to clarify, you can`t install a durgo outside..They freeze up in the winter...

[lutonlagerlout]

you wouldn't need it outside,would you?
if the pipe is outside its venting anyway
cheers LLL

[richie_jones]

Its only venting if she fits a tee with vent pipe.If your installing a lav with a pipe straight through the wall you`d have no room to fit a durgo...I was just saying that you`d need a vent pipe outside not a durgo..!!!!

[lutonlagerlout]

i hear ye richie, mind you if the run is vented elsewhere you dont need any more vents
LLL

[Dave_L]

Oh god, I'm confused!!!!!! :p

[lutonlagerlout]

you have to have at least 1 vent on the run from the road to each and every house,its as simple as that dave

LLL

[flowjoe]

If theres a sink, bath or shower connected to the WC pan connector or outgoing stack then if its outside you will need a vent above eaves height, if its inside you will need an air admittance device (durgo).

We do see durgos fitted on outside pipework usually when someone puts in a downstairs WC and they dont want to extend a new soil vent pipe up to roof height, and as mentioned the valve fails due to frost in the winter. I am pretty sure i have seen durgos that can be used outside though in a builders merchants somewhere on me travels.

Hope this helps with the confusion Dave L

[mickg]

correct me if I am wrong but Helen asked is it possible to connect an upstairs toilet to the downstairs pipe without having to break through a 15" concrete wall which I understood is the external wall as she did say cut through the floor boards,

this is a simple process by installing a durgo valve at the end of the run just after the toilet pan connection, nothing was even mentioned about installing a durgo valve outside

[flowjoe]

Someones tired !!!!!!!

Your right about the opening post mickg but it also mentioned not understanding the need for vents etc..... it just seems that the thread wandered onto the general topic of where and when durgos are used, correctly or incorrectly. :;):

[mickg]

lol

[lutonlagerlout]

its one of those weekender threads,
seem to wander aimlessly about like a shandy drinker
then pop! its kebab time

LLL