One of the often overlooked features of a roof is the roof vent pipe. You are may even be wondering what it is. A roof vent pipe essentially collects the gases from your home and channels them out of your home. As the name suggest, it look like a pipe sticking out of the roof’s surface when you look at your roof. Roof vent pipes are more elaborate and bigger in size in commercial or industrial buildings.
Before you dismiss it as a minor part of the roof, understand that is essential lack of it would be dangerous your home’s wellbeing. The following post explains this in better detail:
Years of research and observation have shown that roof ventilation:
- Extends the life of your roof;
- Reduces energy costs;
- Minimizes indoor temperature extremes.
In cold climates, roof ventilation prevents the formation of ice dams and moisture buildup in attics. In hot climates, heat is vented to help keep the home cool and comfortable. Roof ventilation saves energy and improves air conditioning efficiency.
Let’s take a more in-depth look at how ventilation works for your home. Read more at Long Fence And Home…
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Your roof vent pipe is responsible for preventing ice dams and icicles from forming, thus protecting your roof against water damage.
If you are wondering what relationship your roof vent pipe has with ice dams, the following post gives an elaborate picture of what happens in winter to facilitate ice dam or icicle formation:
Venting minimizes ice dams, by keeping the roof deck cold. Most ice dams occur due to heat loss from the house. Snow has decent insulating value, up to R-2 per inch. Even with an insulated roof, enough snow pack can capture the heat escaping from the house, melting snow and leading to ice dams. Venting keeps the roof deck cold enough to prevent snow from melting, limiting ice dam formation. Read more at Fine Home Building…
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The coolness of the roof deck is necessary for keeping the snow from thawing. You do not want a situation in which your house experiencing “rain” and snow at the same time. This could generally lead to roof vent leaks.
Another great risk factor that can easily cause water damage during winter is roof vent leaks. This may happen due to wear and tear, as explained in the following post:
Occasionally, vent pipe leaks can occur at the collar surrounding the base of the vent pipe where it breaks through the surface of the roofing material. These collars consist of a metal base, generally made out of aluminum, and a rubber boot integrated into the top of the collar.
The collar’s job is to create a tight seal, keeping rainwater and debris from getting into your attic. Over time, through exposure to the sun and harsh weather, the rubber boot may wear out and deteriorate or split. When this occurs, rainwater can seep in between the rubber boot and the vent pipe and accumulate in your home, causing damage. If the rubber boot collar is cracked or damaged, it will need to be replaced. Read more at All Roofing Solutions…
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As the post describes, a damaged collar of the roof vent pipe could be the culprit that allows thawing snow to get into your home.
To ensure you do not have to deal with water damage, you need to rule out any problems with your roof vent pipes. If you need a roofing contractor in Sterling VA to correct any problems you may have with your roof vent pipes, don’t hesitate to call us!
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