9 votes

Main vent stack leak

5 comments

  1. [5]
    devalexwhite
    Link
    Hey all, hoping someone can point me in the right direction of what to do. Have a leak on my bathroom ceiling, it's take 8 months to grow (what thought it was an old leak). In the attic, found...

    Hey all, hoping someone can point me in the right direction of what to do. Have a leak on my bathroom ceiling, it's take 8 months to grow (what thought it was an old leak). In the attic, found it's right next to the main vent stack (galvanized pipe). The base of the pipe connected into a plate, and that plate was wet. The pipe itself didn't seem to have any water on it (maybe it had already dried? It was raining when I went up, but not hard. The leak had grown the night before I think).

    Scoped out the pipe on the roof with my drone, seems to be in good condition? But maybe it is the boot leaking, or is water going in the pipe and leaking out the side of the connector? Any ideas on next steps would be much appreciated!

    4 votes
    1. [4]
      SupraMario
      Link Parent
      Climb up there, and seal it around the boot with roofing tar, don't use anything that dries, as it'll work for a while but fail eventually as it's going to dry out and crumble. I'm betting you are...

      Climb up there, and seal it around the boot with roofing tar, don't use anything that dries, as it'll work for a while but fail eventually as it's going to dry out and crumble. I'm betting you are going to find a small hole or something in the boot, which again not an issue just cover it with the roofing tar.

      7 votes
      1. devilized
        Link Parent
        I agree with this. Leaks around pipe penetrations are almost always a failed boot. Could either be where the boot wraps around the pipe, or where it meets the roof. Those bends can crack or warp...

        I agree with this. Leaks around pipe penetrations are almost always a failed boot. Could either be where the boot wraps around the pipe, or where it meets the roof. Those bends can crack or warp over time. Could also be at a nail penetration that was used to nail the boot to the roof that isn't sufficiently covered by your shingles.

        3 votes
      2. [2]
        devalexwhite
        Link Parent
        Thanks for the reply! Would something like "Henry Rubberized Wet Patch Roof Cement" work?

        Thanks for the reply! Would something like "Henry Rubberized Wet Patch Roof Cement" work?

        1 vote
        1. SupraMario
          Link Parent
          While I have never personally used that brand, it should work just fine. Get a cheap thin blade drywall knife(like 2" wide) and some gloves...both of which you're probably going to toss after you...

          While I have never personally used that brand, it should work just fine. Get a cheap thin blade drywall knife(like 2" wide) and some gloves...both of which you're probably going to toss after you have used. (Or use a wood paint mixer. Point being is this stuff doesn't come off anything, you can clean it with acetone but it's just not worth it.

          6 votes