Snow in attic through mushroom vents,leaking into great room ceiling
Snow pileing up in attic above garage and cathedral ceiling. That I have found is the cause of my ceiling leaks. 6 pot vents spaced along the east side of the house 3/12 to 4/12 pitch (Max) home three years old!!!
I went in through the attic hatch in the garage. Found water stains and snow under some of the pot vents(Mushroom Vents)
It then starts to melt and infiltrate my cathedral ceiling through the pot lights and through the ceiling in my laundry room.
Full vented soffits and more vents seem to be in place but could be partially blocked. I thinking that would cause a negative air pressure drawing snow in from the pot mushroom vents. I need help on this ,besides removing 4 of the 6 vents to prevent further leaking i would then need to ventilate the area in a another way. A ridge vent would fit on the ridge ove the cathedral ceiling great room. But the other 2 are 3 feet from the top ridge where the roof meets the second story siding area!!
Thom
Ps. I live in SW Ontario Canada where we some times we get 1-2 feet of snow at once. Lots of wind -25c and then could warm up to plus 10c.
Last edited by thom risley; 12-31-2008 at 06:38 PM.
Reason: added roof vents picture just took!
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I have seen rain/snow come through the pot vents a few times and in every case the solution was to place one face fastener in the bottom center of the vent, what happens is the wind drives the vents upward and allows rain/snow in.
Once you have placed the nail, make sure it's pounded in flush and cover it with a silicone caulking or roof cement.
I have seen rain/snow get into all kinds of vents, including ridge vents,
but it doe's not allow in so much as to cause a problem like your having,
so I would inspect the existing vents to see if what I mentioned above is indeed whats going on with your situation.
Edited to add:
If the existing vents you are talking about are actually the type that have a mechanical top that spins 'twirly birds' is the name I know them by,
they are known for problems such as yours and the best solution in that case would be to remove them and install pot or ridge vents.
__________________
God Fearing, Husband/Father, US American, Pool Shooting Roofer
also see that when vents not set properly,remove the shingles surrounding vents,remove vent,set sealant about 1" in from exterior perimeter of vents,and set them into it,a loose bottom flange can allow snow,and rain to blow in under the vents---You should put pics of the roof/vents for a proper opinion---you should also have screening around the diagphram area of the vent which should prevent snow blowing in thru there
There are mesh grills on the underbody of the vents facing the attic.
The vents have been chaulked when they replaced the back half of the roof in the spring. home is 3 years old!
I just went out and i took a pic of the roof line and the pot vents run all in a line.
This a pic of the back 4 the front 2 are directly over the garage which had a large water stain posted with my original pics on the garage ceiling just inside the hatch opening.
There are no gable vents or ridge vents. Soffit is fully vented and when i was in attic i did see the more vents.
The pic is looking at the side of the home front east side looking up and back. The last 2 venst are directly over the great room catherdral ceiling. The builder had roofers replace the opposite side of the west side of the back portion of the cathedral ceiling roof thinking it was the problem. Our water and snow infiltration started last october 2007 a month after we moved in.
Last edited by thom risley; 12-31-2008 at 06:33 PM.
Reason: Added pic and more comments re no other venting on roof.
caulking vents after an install is not the same as setting them in it,the point slyfox,and I were making referred to the bottom of the vents warping up off the roof slightly which would allow snow and water to nter in a wind driven situation---I would want ridge vent where possible,and against the walls,I would prefer a clerestory vent,which would be at the wall,and lapped underneath the siding---look at : http://www.dciproducts.com/html/shedroof.htm
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Snow in attic through mushroom vents,leaking into great room ceiling
Snow pileing up in attic above garage and cathedral ceiling. That I have found is the cause of my ceiling leaks. 6 pot vents spaced along the east side of the house 3/12 to 4/12 pitch (Max) home three years old!!!
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