In heavy rains, are you getting rain into your attic, and suspect leaks around your roof vents? Read through the following sections for information relative to roof vent leakage.

How to fix ridge vent Leaks

Ridge vents are exhaust vents that run the length of your roof and exhaust hot air from the attic in summer weather. They most often have a rounded top and some type of spinning element to help circulate air. You need to look in your attic after a heavy rain and see if you have leakage anywhere along the length of your roof. If you see dampness or water leaking into the attic along the ridge, you need to inspect the specific area of the leak from the roof side. You may have some flashing that has become loose or torn and is admitting water during heavy rains.

If the entire vent is leaking, you can install special ridge vents that prevent heavily driven rain coming in sideways. They commonly work by increasing the height of the flashing preventing rain from entering the vent. Alternatively, you can try to solve the problem by installing a taller ridge vent flange along the entire ridge. Another option is to install ridge vent closure foam to stop heavy water droplets from entering the vent.

Why do ridge vents leak?

A reason why a single ridge vent may leak is improper installation of the ridge vent or the vent-associated shingles of the roof. Heavy rain is often accompanied by heavy wind. Shingles that were not secured enough during installation of the roof may have blown off or become torn. This would let rain enter at the exposed area.

Ridge vents need to be installed correctly or one is inviting trouble. The ridge vents need to overlap by about 1 1/2 inches and be sealed with a good caulking. Regular maintenance of your roof includes checking for loose vents. By pulling up a little on each vent, one can detect nails that are not holding any longer and need a replacement. Proper maintenance of your roof means getting a professional roof inspection 2 times each year, in the fall and in the spring. This will help you catch problems early before you ever see any significant leaks or water damage.

How to fix other roof vent leaks

Roof vents other than ridge vents are most often pipes which come up from different areas of the building (like kitchen and bath) and penetrate through the roof, providing an exhaust for the area. These vents also need to be checked twice a year for any problems. Most of these vents prevent leaks with a combination of a round boot and an associated flashing. The boot, which installs over the round pipe, is typically of a rubber material which can develop cracks. These cracked boots need to be replaced or at least caulked to prevent water from running down the outside of the pipe into the area below. Another approach is to put a new boot over the old one and seal the two together with caulking.

Some roof vents for exhausting hot air from the attic (near the top of the roof) are square or rectangular with a mushroom type of hood and unprotected sides. In a heavy rain accompanied with heavy winds, water can be blown into the vent. This activity can be prevented by removing the mushroom hood and installing a breathable shield around the vent and under the hood.

How to prevent roof vent leaks in the first place

The best way to stop a roof vent leak is to make sure it never happens in the first place! Don’t wait until your attic smells musty from mold and water damage. Call your local roofing pros out to inspect your roof and catch problems before they start. Because Texas weather changes so often, it’s best to call for a roof inspection twice a year to check for seasonal roof problems that come from falling leaves and changing humidity.