Did Rain Water Come In Through Your Roof Vents?

Posted on: 23 January 2023

When a rain storm ends, you might be in the habit of checking your attic for roof leaks. (If you're not in this habit yet, it's a good one to develop!) Usually, if you do spot water, you're able to pinpoint where it came from — maybe some missing shingles or a piece of ripped flashing. But what if you have significant water in your attic with no obvious sign of roof damage? In this situation, your roof vents may actually be to blame. Rainwater can come in through the vents in two different ways — and both should be addressed by a roof repair team.

Problem #1: Water blowing up through the vent.

Your roof vents are positioned so that rainwater cannot drain down into them. However, the bottom of the vent is usually relatively flat. So, if wind-driven rain comes in at just the right angle — and with enough power — it can actually get blown up towards the roof peak and in through the bottom of the vent. 

Your roofer can examine the positioning and shape of your vents and let you know if this is likely to be what happened. If they do think water is getting blown into your roof vents, they can replace your current vents with ones that have a baffle on the bottom. The baffle is like a wall that keeps wind-driven rain from entering the vent.

Problem #2: Water seeping around a loose vent.

Another possibility is that one or more of your roof vents are loose. The screws holding them to your roof may be loose, allowing the vent to move around a little in its cavity. When the rain comes down hard enough, it may shift the loose vent to the side, allowing some water to seep in around it.

If your roofer finds that your vent is loose, they may either re-secure it or replace it. Sometimes, vents become loose because they are starting to corrode around the fasteners, and in this case, a new vent is the best answer. Your roofer may take this opportunity to install a baffled vent, as mentioned above.

If you have water in your attic but no sign of roof damage, have a roof repair contractor come look at your vents. They can give you better insight into the problem and recommend the necessary repairs. Even having to replace a few vents is not terribly expensive. For more information on residential roof repair, contact a company near you.

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