Exhaust leaking HELP PLEASE

Question

When it rains and the wind is blowing my exhaust fan leaks so bad over the toilet i have to put three towels around the toilet. My husband caulked around the exhaust on the outside and this did not help. It is starting to leave a brown ring on my ceiling. We live in Louisiana and our house has a Home ventilation in the attic to help control the moisture. HELP PLEASE

SLS Construction & Building Solutions LLC · Answer

I take it your bath exhaust van vents through the roof? If so congrats because most I know don't ever leave the attic... With that is there a cover on the to & how high up does the venting run from the roof? The next one is that the leak may not be caused by the fan, but maybe happening further up & running down till it hits the pipe. 
A couple of pics might help and so would someone being in the attic during the next storm to see if they spot any leaks

KMS Woodworks · Answer

If it is a vertical vent stack check the 'flashing boot' that surrounds it...this is where leaks could get around the pipe. You may also get leaks inside the pipe...for that a 180 degree elbow slipped over the top should prevent water from getting down the tube.

Gail Salminen · Answer

@Trent-Tonya Sharp I agree with KMS. We had a problem for a while, but when we replaced the roof they informed us the flashing was not done correctly. You may want a roofer to have a look to assess. Good luck solving your problem. For the ceiling stain you will want to treat with kilz before repainting and after solving the leak problem.

146254 · Answer

I am curious about the condition of the 'cap' atop the vent. In my old town home they did not cap the vent and I had that same problem (and this was a brand new house). Not very smart builders, thankfully my Dad is a Master Carpenter and knew right away what was wrong.
Do you have a cap on the vent, and could it be that the wind is blowing hard enough to allow rain into the vent and then down into your bathroom?

Hamtil Construction LLC · Answer

Agree with @SLS Construction Solutions that possibly looking in the attic during a storm would be a prudent idea. That way, you will know if the issue is a leak from around the vent cap, or from rain entering inside the vent cap. Also- Is this a new issue? Any changes recently.. new install or new roof? Any photos might be helpful as well. My initial impression is that you need a new vent installed on your roof. We usually use 'static vents' and than terminate the pipe below it.

Trent-Tonya Sharp · Answer

thanks to all sorry i dont have pictures of it but all this info is very helpful.

Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com · Answer

The type of vent hood is also very important as well. If you have a shallow roof many vents do not work properly as they allow water to blow back up and under the vent hood. I would suggest if that is the case to try to vent the discharge out the side of the house using a dryer vent style hood with a screen. 
Also check the hood itself for bird nesting materials. If the screen on the front of the hood has been compromised it is common for birds to attempt to nest in this area. The result is the nesting materials holding up the flapper that should be preventing the moisture from entering in the first place.

To figure out exactly what the issue is you need to check the pipe from the attic during a wet windy day. If you feel the water on the outside of the pipe, then the issue is the flashing or attatchment point that several suggested is the cause. IF the outside of the pipe is dry then the water is entering from inside the vent hood which suggests that the issues I spoke of being the issue at hand.

HandyANDY - Handyman & All Repairs, LLC · Answer

Try sealing all edges and nail penetrations with Thru-the-Roof a sashco sealant available at most Ace Hardwares...it's usually in an endcap or in the caulk section....great stuff

Carol Fredette · Answer

your leak could be coming in from a different area of the roof. Checking the attic is a good idea. Would show where the leak has started. If that fails call a roofer. if he's any good he will find the culprit.

Exhaust leaking HELP PLEASE

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Exhaust leaking HELP PLEASE

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