Roof Leaking Around Exhaust Fan

A roof that leaks around a vent pipe is a common cause of small water stains on a ceiling or water leaking into a home.

Roof leaking around exhaust fan.

There are many possible parts of the roof potentially leaking but one of the most common ones is the area around the roof vent. Many people notice the issue when the bathroom exhaust fan starts dripping on their head as they step out after a shower. If bath fan ducting isn t properly insulated the moist air from your house will condense inside the duct. This is why roofers add a flashing to the vent cap.

Roof leaks around vent pipes is relatively common. The first step is to head to the attic. This is no fancy over the stove exhaust system just a round circular fan that sits flush up against the ceiling and vents to the roof. It s common to find stained ceilings around bathroom exhaust fans in minnesota as well as stains in the attic around where the bathroom exhaust fan terminates at the roof.

This creates the seal. The usual cause is condensation inside the duct. We had some water leaking onto the kitchen stove from the exhaust fan above it during the last couple of heavy rains. In winter when the warm moist air from the bathroom hits cool air in the attic or outdoors it condenses sending drips back down the ductwork.

Leading to roof leaks around skylights. If your leaking bathroom exhaust fan has been going on for some time it may be a very good idea to remove the actual bathroom exhaust fan and check for damage in the ceiling cavity. If your roof vent leaks during heavy rain the rain may be blowing up under the hood and into the vent. Why fix a leaking exhaust fan or ceiling vent.

There may be damaged insulation damaged drywall damaged wood framing and there may be mold growing. Water stains on the ceiling around your bath fan may indicate a leak coming from the vent cap on your roof but condensation is the more likely culprit. It this is the case you need to create a breathable shield to slow the driving rain drops while still allowing air flow. In the unfortunate chance that you have a roof vent style that can let water in through its sides.

This video shows one possible way to do that. During the last storm it even started leaking through the ceiling light which is about 4 feet away from the exhaust fan on the ceiling.