5 Way To Fix Bathroom Vent Leaking Water When It Rains

Think of a stormy night when it’s raining. You would love to have a muscle-soothing shower.

You step into the bathroom, but the fun and excitement vanish away the moment you step in.

Your eyes are about to witness a scene that will haunt you, being a homeowner.

The water drops start dropping from the vent, telling you a story that you will not like.

This drop-by-drop dripping tells you that the rain is turning out to be a real menace for you.

If you are worried about the bathroom vent leaking water when it rains, this article will let you know what is happening?

Why is this happening?

How can I manage all this?

The leak can range from minor to major. It is important to handle them swiftly.

If the water stays on the floor for long, it can be hazardous, especially if there are elderly and young ones in the home.

What Is Causing The Vent Leakage?

It is hard to pinpoint one particular reason for leakage. There can be several causes of leaking vent in the rain.

Some of the most reported ones are:

• Condensation

The most reported cause of the bathroom vent leaking water when it rains is condensation. It is often reported during the winters.

The warm air that is full of moisture moves up in the bathroom. As it combines with the cooler air from the attic or the outside, it gets condensed.

As a result, the water, instead of going out of the vent, starts returning into the toilet,

The condensation cannot be limited to low-temperature months. If it is a warmer part of the year, then the outer hot airstrikes against the colder air running through the pipes of the Air Conditioning system and gets condensed.

The vapor barrier can be another cause of condensation. Poor installation of the vapor barrier can cause water to pool up on the floor.

Once the vapor barrier stops working properly, the water will make its way through the ducts.

• Snow Buildup On The Roof

If the temperature goes below negative, the ice starts building up on the roof. As you begin taking the warm show, the ice on the top melts.

This melted ice will start moving into the bathroom through the vent.

• Faulty Flashing For The Vent Cap

How is the vent installed?

A hole is created in the roof to install the vent. Although the holes are made with great precision and perfection, there are still chances that some gaps are left around the pipes.

The roofers seal the holes by adding flashing to the vent cap. In case the flashing gets damaged or broken, the water will start dripping down from the vent.

• Damper Is Out Of Order

Dampers seem insignificant, but they play a vital role in looking after the airflow. It has to be closed until the warm air within opens it with pressure.

The damper is not working appropriately if it opens even when the warm air is not pushing. In this case, you will see water dripping through the vent when it rains.

• Inappropriate Choice

There are chances that you have not bought the right fan.

If you buy a small exhaust that does not match the dimensions of the bathroom or does not fulfill a huge family’s requirements, you will see the outcomes when it is raining.

Such inappropriate fans cannot throw out the warm air, and as a result, the vent starts giving way to the water to drip down.

• Exhaust Placement Challenges

Exhaust cannot be just installed. There are certain spaces where it will not work appropriately. Usually, it is not recommended to place them over the tub or the shower.

This is not the appropriate place where it can work. It will prevent the warm air from cooling down before being expelled out if it is placed over this location.

• Improper Run Time

The exhaust fan makes bad noises all the time. These sounds are quite annoying for the users.

To keep away such sounds, they only operate it once they leave the bathroom after the shower. It is a safe way to use the fan as you start taking a shower.

Make sure that they keep running for over 15 minutes even after you are done with the shower.

In this way, all the warm air is thrown out without the condensation’s buildup, making sure no water comes in.

• Water Accumulating On The Roof

Too much rain pouring down stays on the top of the roof and takes the form of a puddle. If this pool is not removed, it can be one of the causes of vent leakage.

As always, it’s a good idea to have a professional check to find the cause of the leaking.

They have trained eyes to spot the cause and make recommendations on the best way to solve it.

• Inexperienced Installers

At times the humanistic errors can cause the water to start running down from the vent.

Before installation, the miscalculated dimensions, inaccurate placements, ignorant attitude regarding maintenance can result in long-term botheration,

Especially when working off the vent during the rain.

Fix To Fit

Once the possible reasons are clear, it is time to find out how to fix the bathroom vent leaking water when it rains.

1. Have A Look At The Damper

The first thing is to go out and check the dampers. Malfunctioning damper brings in the water from the vent.

The timely opening and closing of the damper determine how well it is doing.
If it is not responding properly to the warm air or the seal seems defective, don’t give it another thought.

Take up the tools and replace them.

2. Vent Pipe Insulation

This is the second way to perfect the vent. An uninsulated vent pipe is not able to control the temperature as you like.

Wrap it in the insulation to make sure that no condensation takes place.

If the vent pipe passes through the roof, check it thoroughly to see that no condensation havoc is reported while passing through the roof or the attic.

3. Change The Fan Location

If you have checked the fan’s size and position and make sure that the mismatched features are causing the vent to leak, it’s time to replace or reposition the existing fan.

Only a well-versed handyman can help you uninstalling and reinstalling the fan to avoid future problems.

4. Adjusting The Run Time

Keep track of the time that you run the fan. The inadequate run time is among the major causes of the leaking vent during the rain.

If you are not running the fan during the shower, the humidity stays within.
The humidity content inside is already too high, so the air outside will start coming into the bathroom through the vent.

To avoid this interior vs. exterior challenge, let the fan keep running during and after the shower.

5. Add A Dehumidifier

If you live in an area where humidity is high or in a building with improper insulation, humidity can bar the proper working of the vents.

To fight back the unnecessary moisture, add a humidifier. Make sure it works in the most humid times.

Getting humidifiers all over can help you remove the unwanted humidity.

Conclusion

The bathroom vent leaking water when it rains is a sign of malfunctioning. If the problem persists for long, it can turn out to be a disaster.

A vigilant homeowner is not only one who buys essentials carefully, but he is also the one who keeps a close check on such happenings.

If there is a slight change in the performance and there is a single drop of water coming down the vent, it means you need to consider all the possible causes that are ruining the bathroom and go through the solutions.

Stay safe, Stay Happy!

Read Also

• Best Panasonic Bathroom Exhaust Fan
• Toilet Fill Valve Leaking From Top | A User’s Guide
• Bathroom Exhaust Fan Leaking Water When It Rain? | How To Fix
• Best Ceiling Fan For Small Bathroom
• Best Bathroom Ventilation Fan
• Where Do Bathroom Vents Go Apartment?
• How To Ventilate A Bathroom Without Windows | Easiest Ways