Comparing wet vents and dry vents is essential when it comes to designing a bathroom and ensuring it all works in harmony.
It’s common to assume one type of vent will work in the bathroom when that’s not the case. A lot of people don’t see good results if they use the wrong type of vent and in some places, you may end up breaking the legal building code too.
This is why it’s best to understand the differences between wet vents and dry vents.
A wet vent is commonly a two-pronged design meaning it acts as a drain for the sink and a vent for the toilet. In comparison, a dry vent is only responsible for transporting air and does not have a connection to any water source inside the bathroom.
This is a subtle difference that has to be understood when renovating or designing a new bathroom. The wrong type of vent can lead to subpar results depending on where the rest of the infrastructure is laid out.
This can include pipes and all of the other relevant components of a fully functional bathroom.
This article will dive deeper into the subject by looking at how dry vents compare to wet vents and vice versa.
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What is a Wet Vent?
A wet vent is a specialized pipe designed to act as a vent and waste pipe simultaneously. It is specifically engineered to help keep the drain’s trap safe when it is interconnected with different bathroom fixtures.
When a fixture does not have a draining solution or vent, it will begin to drain slowly, make gurgling noises, and/or release bad odors.
In some cases, the odor that is going to come from the drain trap can include methane gas. This is dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.
What is a Dry Vent?
A dry vent refers to a pipe that only supplies air to the drain line. It does not have any connection to the water coming from specific bathroom fixtures including the toilet or sink. It is only responsible for the air.
Comparing A Wet Vent Vs Dry Vent
1. Wet Vents Can Drain Water
A wet vent is designed to be used for transporting air and draining water.
It’s common for this type of vent to be linked through the pipes in the bathroom while allowing for a simple drainage setup. When necessary, the property owner can have a pipe linking the toilet to the wet vent.
This is ideal for many households where this type of connection is possible without compromising space of efficiency.
While it might not be possible in other households, it is something that a building code might demand to make sure the water is going through as needed. In general, the wet vent is linked to a bathroom fixture such as the sink as the water goes through.
When a dry vent is set up, this means the pipes have to go through another part of the bathroom. This can take up more space because the sink is now draining separately and to another part of the bathroom.
It’s best to pay attention to the bathroom’s layout when choosing a vent. This can make it easier to set one up that will be as efficient as possible in transporting air and/or water depending on its features.
2. Dry Vents Only Transport Air
When comparing a dry vent to a wet vent, you are going to realize this specific feature transports air and nothing else.
The idea is for the dry vent to run and suck in as much moisture in the air without having it go through a connected pipe. This is ideal for bathrooms where a vent has to be set up and doesn’t need to be linked to the sink or other draining fixtures.
In this case, a sink would be connected to a separate drainage setup.
It’s important to pay attention to this when it comes to choosing the right type of vent for your bathroom.
3. Dry Vents Can Be Easier To Set Up
Dry vents are naturally easier to install.
The reason for this has to do with only linking to one part of the bathroom and not having to sync with the sink’s drainage system.
Just having to deal with transporting air simplifies the task for your bathroom vent. If it is all about simplicity then this type of vent is going to be a lot better.
On the other hand, some bathrooms do require a wet vent because it allows them to connect the sink to the vent while also handling the toilet.
Final Thoughts
These are the main factors when comparing a wet vent vs a dry vent.
A wet vent is engineered to connect to a sink for draining water while also transporting air from the toilet. On the other hand, a dry vent will only be responsible for transporting air and is not going to be connected to the toilet or any other draining fixture.
This is why it’s best to look at the layout of the bathroom and how the sink is going to be set up. This is vital information that will shed light on how the air and water are going to go through the system.
It’s always best to choose the right fixture so it’s compatible with your bathroom’s needs.
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