Water In Your Attic Without Roof Damage? Check Your Vents

After a major storm, it's always a relief to return home and find that you don't have any obvious roof damage. But then, you venture into the attic and find water. This may have you scratching your head and questioning your observational skills. There's water in your attic, but your roof seems fine — so what gives? Chances are, your attic vents are to blame. Here's a closer look at this problem and how to address it.

How does water get in your roof vents?

Most roof vents are built so that the opening is at the bottom of the vent, under a curve that is meant to let water run off and miss that opening. Usually, this design works and keeps water from coming in through the vent. But if there's a lot of wind-driven rain and the wind blows at just the right angle, the water can get blown up the roof and ultimately into the bottom of your vent. 

When this happens, it usually happens en masse during a big storm. So, the amount of water in your attic can be pretty substantial and can really make it look, at first, like there's something terribly wrong with your roof.

What should you do about this problem?

The first thing you should do is have the water cleaned up. This may mean calling a water damage restoration company and having them remove the insulation, run a dehumidifier, and treat the area for mold. If the water damage is less substantial, you can often do this yourself. But make sure you act quickly before mold really sets in.

Next, call a roofing company. There are two things they can do for you in this scenario. First, they can look over your roof to double-check whether there is any damage you overlooked that could account for the wetness.

If your roofer does, indeed, conclude that the water came in through the vent, they'll likely want to replace your vents with new ones. Newer vents are designed with a specific type of baffle on the bottom. This vertical baffle keeps water from rising up and going into the vent, even during wind-driven rain.

Finding water in your attic with no visible roof damage can be really frustrating. However, if you follow the advice above, you can usually get to the bottom of the case and address it. With new vents, you should not have to worry about similar leaks ever again. For more information, contact a company like NJ Roofing.


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