Besides causing a minor inconvenience, leaking roof vents can pose a lot of major damages to your home, properties, and other belongings. Once the water has found its way through the vent, it can trickle through your ceiling and its different layers – paint, the plaster, etc. Then you’ll start to notice several watermarks on your walls or ceiling. Know that this issue can spread into your home and create a lot more damage that may require costly repairs in the future. Additionally, this can result in your home being a breeding ground for molds and mildew, which can be dangerous to your property and health.
Leaks can occur in random areas of your roof, and most often, the vents are the most susceptible. The problem may be rooted in the neglect of proper maintenance and vulnerability to extremely harsh weather. For this reason, it is important to note that having an appropriate routine of maintenance should never be neglected. This way, you can be able to spot damages and signs of damages as early as possible, which makes it easier to repair and prolong the life of your roof.
Follow this easy guide on how to repair roof vent leaks.
Ensure Safety
Never not prioritize safety. Roof work may expose you to different risks and hazards, so it is important to plan and prepare everything before you begin. Make sure that you will able to support your weight wherever you will be standing or stepping on. When working, ensure that nothing can hinder your progress or productivity, such as extreme heat, extreme cold, wet weather, etc. If the condition is not favorable, better postpone the plan for the meantime.
Secure proper and safety equipment. Know the essential things such as a ladder, harness, and more. Be sure to work with a partner, and never attempt to do any roofing work alone. Your partner can work as an extra set of eyes and hands should you need assistance. However, suppose you are not a very skilled craftsman and are not comfortable doing any roofing job. In that case, it is better to contact a professional roofing company to do the job for you.
Identify the Problem
Proper diagnosis is the first step toward doing any roofing-related tasks. If you plan to DIY your roof repairs, you need to learn how to identify the signs of a leak. This will help you begin the process and successfully complete it. The watermarks or stains on the ceiling can be a major sign. Dark spots are also one of the many telltale signs of a roof leak, and most of the time, it spreads out from where the leak is located.
Mold growth can also be a sign telling you where exactly the source of the leak is. This also means the moisture has made its way into your home. Check out for rusts as water trickles down the pipes and over the vents.
You may also want to check your shingles. If they are worn away, and if the sealant has come off, they can be the source of leaks.
Locate the Leak
Make use of the signs because they can be good indicators of the exact location of the problem. If you need, do this in the attic or on your roof, where the problem is apparent. The leak can be found anywhere near the vent or somewhere along the vent pipe, especially when the seal around it has come off or is not enough. Take note that you could be dealing with more than one leak at a time.
How To Fix
It’s not a guarantee that you will be able to handle the damage on your own immediately. Sometimes you will need to call a professional roofer for a rescue. But there are things that you can do to temporarily fix the issues, so as to prevent it from causing further damages and wrecking your entire home. Assuming that the permanent solution is on its way, you can tie a towel around the leaking vent pipe to prevent the water from coming through. Remember that this fix is just temporary.
Or, you can add an extra layer of sealant over the damaged area, and again, this is still a temporary fix because a leaking vent pipe needs a more efficient solution.
Prevention is Always Better Than Cure
If you are looking for the best solution for a leak, it’s prevention.
Preventing it from happening in the first place can only be achieved through proper and regular maintenance performed by a licensed roofer. Whether for rescue or for prevention, know who to call. Refresh Remodeling is always available to help you with your roofing problems.