Bathroom Vent Leaking? Here’s What You Need to Know

Is your bathroom vent leaking?

Do you notice stains on your ceiling around the vent? If your leaking bathroom vent looks like this, Zablocki Roofing can diagnose and fix the issue.

Understanding the Problem

If your bathroom vent leaks during the winter or spring thaw, it’s likely due to warm, humid air entering your attic. When this air cannot escape your attic space, it freezes and forms frost. As temperatures warm up, or when you run your bath fan, the frost melts, causing water to leak around the vent and leave stains on your ceiling.

During the summer, a leaking bathroom vent might be caused by different issues. Common culprits include:

• A cracked vent
• Wind-driven rain
• Leaks unrelated to the bathroom vent

Common Causes of Bathroom Vent Leaks in Winter

1. Improper Venting: The bathroom vent fan is vented straight into the attic instead of out through the roof, trapping moisture that turns into frost.
2. Loose Vent Pipe: A loose vent pipe allows moisture to escape into the attic, leading to frost buildup on the underside of the roof decking.
3. Non-Insulated Pipe: Without proper insulation, moisture inside the pipe can freeze, leading to leaks.
4. Incorrectly Installed Insulation: Improperly installed insulated pipes allow trapped moisture to leak back into the bathroom vent.
5. Faulty Vent Hood Dampener: A malfunctioning dampener, caused by factors like a hornet’s nest or freezing, prevents proper ventilation.
6. Broken or Cracked Vent Hood: Damage to the vent hood can allow snow or rain to enter and leak into your home.

The Risks of Ignoring the Issue

Ignoring a bathroom vent leak can lead to more severe problems, including:

• A failing bath fan
• Stains and damage to ceiling sheetrock
• Wet insulation, which promotes the growth of mold and mildew

Take Action Today

Don’t wait for the problem to get worse. Call Zablocki Roofing, Inc. today to address your bathroom vent leak before it becomes a much bigger issue.

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