Your rooftop vent pipes are among the unsung heroes of your home.
Many commercial and residential structures throughout Austin sport at least one of these pipes. When you have a roof that's leaking around a vent pipe, it's typically not a sign that the roof has a major structural problem. Instead, the damaged flashing around the vent pipe likely needs to be replaced as quickly as possible.
When people discover that the roof is leaking around one or more of the vent pipes in their home, they often wonder ...
“Why the heck do I need one of these in the first place?”
What That Pipe is Doing Up There in the First Place
Having any kind of protrusion in the roof causes a point of weakness that could be further exacerbated by the weather.
In an ideal world, we wouldn’t need rooftop vent pipes. After all, it is much more likely that you’ll find the roof leaking around vent pipe than virtually any other part of the roof, with the possible exception of the chimney. Still, you’re much better off with a vent pipe. Without proper ventilation, your home's HVAC system will not work optimally.
Of course, it’s a pain to see the roof leaking around the vent pipe.
Luckily, professional roofing contractors can get it fixed quickly.
Is Your Roof Leaking Around a Vent Pipe?
A rooftop ventilation pipe is usually protected by a plastic pipe boot featuring a neoprene gasket. These gaskets are very inexpensive and can fit into a wide variety of roof pipes.
Over the last few years, plastic pipe boots have become very popular and displaced the old-fashioned lead or copper fixtures that were used previously. Although they are convenient, plastic isn’t as strong or resilient as metal options. Like many other materials, plastic is prone to expansion and contraction when it's exposed to temperature extremes. Heavy winter weather presents a particular problem. After a major snow storm and its melt-off, the material can become permanently cracked or warped out of shape due to weight and pressure.
The good news is that these leaks start small and are easy to control. If they’re allowed to continue, though, they can spread throughout that entire section of the roof – especially if it rains or snows again before the repairs get done.
For the help you need, contact the Longhorn Roofing team today!
