Whats an Island Vent? Some new drink at the bar?

The title? I know, really bad joke.

However, I would be willing to bet a number of you don't know what an Island Vent is.

I came across this in the Forums the other day and felt it needed a few words for those unfamiliar with it.

Island vents have  a few names:

Island Vent

Chicago Loop

Island Loop Vent

Island Fixture Vent

Peninsula Vent

Etc...

Point is, what the heck is it?

An Island Vent is a special plumbing vent designed for Islands, typically in the kitchen. They allow the right amount of airflow to get to the fixture (sink), so it can drain properly.

They can be a real pain in the butt. Usually people seem to want an island where its most inconvenient for the plumbing to run, but just talk to your inspector. A lot of times the inspector will allow for "variances" depending on the difficulty of your run.

By all means don't tick off the inspector. I don't think I need to say why.

Now keep in mind that every areas rules are different, and while the basic venting is the same it can have different applications in different towns. The point? Check with your local inspector or call a local plumbing shop if you have a question.

Below is a pretty good representation of an island vent:

So I know what your thinking.

I can do that..... How hard could that be?

Well, all I will say is think twice if you haven't done much plumbing on your own. I know there are plenty of guys on BP who could do this in their sleep, but if you don't do it often, it can be a challenge.

So Island Vents, are after all, not microbreweries in the tropics.

Happy Plumbing.