DIY Ways to Stop Outside Vent Pipe Overflows

Feed a drain auger down any clogged drains inside your house or others gurgling when water flows down. Spin the crank on the auger clockwise as you feed the auger line down the drains, stopping once you reach the end of the auger line.

Turn the auger crank counterclockwise as you pull the line out of the drains. Feed the auger down the drains up to three times in an attempt to remove any partial or complete blockages in the drainpipes.

Climb onto your roof using a ladder. Remove any objects stuck in the vent pipe openings, then shine a flashlight down each of the vent pipes to look for additional obstructions. Feed the drain auger or a flexible retriever tool down the pipes to knock free or pull out the obstructions from the pipes.

Spray water down the vent pipes, using a garden hose with a high-pressure spray attachment, to remove any other obstructions deep inside the pipes. If the pipes are clogged with ice, pour hot water down the pipes to melt away the ice obstruction.

Wrap pipe insulation tape around the vent pipes inside your attic, if you find ice was clogging the pipes. Install vent pipe caps onto the vent pipe openings, if you find other debris in the pipes, following the pipe manufacturer's instructions.