How To Unfreeze An Outside Air Vent Roof

Turbine vents are those ubiquitous devices found on almost every residential rooftop.

How to unfreeze an outside air vent roof.

Under normal operation the air to relieve that vacuum would come from air flowing down through the roof vent. Firstly the pipe freezes at the roof outlet due to condensation of the warm gases as they reach the cold outside air condensation continues until the pipe finally freezes right over. The water would then run back down and drip out of the exhaust fan onto your head. Plus in the cord on ground level for a few hours.

A gurgling toilet may indicate a clogged or frozen vent stack. Terminating these pipes above the roof ensures any vapours that potentially come up through the drains from the sewer will harmlessly be released outside rather than penetrate our indoor air. But now the roof vent was frozen and could not supply the air needed to eliminate the vacuum in the sump. If this happens pour warm water down the roof s sewer vent stack.

I also used to climb up on the roof and thaw the vent with hot water. The pipe in the attic is already insulated now it was time to do something on the exterior as well. There was no access to the attic until i had the wood stove installed. Over time these vents can become squeaky from moisture and age related natural degradation.

The hot moist air would travel up the vent hose towards the roof and condense in the cold attic. Designed to maintain steady ventilation to attics these devices are necessary to prevent mold and excessive heat buildup under the roof. Excessive snow on the roof can block the vent s stack and cause freezing. This blockage keeps air from traveling up the vent pipe properly.

Then the vent pipe may be re angled and a new cap may be put into place to keep debris from clogging it again. As we know from basic physics nature abhors a vacuum so the air supply for the vacuum in the sump had to come from somewhere else. There may be a clog in the sewer line right where it meets the vent pipe. To provide both of these functions terminating the drain vent high up above the roof is necessary.

And when the need arises. Now i loop a 2 ft pipe heating cable about 8 10 inches into the vent and tape the rest of it to the outside of the vent i do this in late fall before it gets cold and icy on the roof.