Roof vents are sneaky like that—it's almost like they wait until you're comfy in bed before they start dripping. If you're up for it, here's what I'd do: grab a flashlight and head into the attic during daylight. Look up around the vent pipes; any daylight shining through means trouble. If that's clear, run your hand around the vent boot from inside—feel for moisture or damp insulation. Sometimes those rubber seals dry out or pull away slightly, just enough to let water creep in slowly... usually at midnight, of course.
You're spot on about those rubber seals—they're sneaky little culprits. I've seen plenty of cases where the seal looks fine at first glance, but a closer feel reveals it's brittle or cracked. Definitely worth the attic crawl to catch it early... midnight drips are no joke.
Had my first attic crawl last weekend—definitely not fun, but you're right, totally worth it. Found one seal already cracking. Glad I caught it now instead of dealing with buckets at 2am...
Good catch on that cracked seal. Attic crawls are definitely a pain, but beats the alternative, right? I used to think all this preventive stuff was just hype—until my roof decided to spring a leak in the middle of a storm. Nothing like scrambling around at midnight with towels and buckets to change your perspective...
Did you notice if the cracking was from age or maybe poor installation? I've seen some seals go bad surprisingly fast because whoever installed them cut corners. Hopefully yours is just normal wear and tear. Either way, patching it now should save you some headaches (and cash) down the road. Keep an eye out though—sometimes one cracked seal means others aren't far behind.
Good point about checking other seals—once one goes, others often follow suit. From what I've seen, cracked seals usually come down to a combo of age and UV exposure. But you're right, installation matters big-time. I've inspected roofs barely five years old with seals already failing because the installer skimped on quality materials or rushed the job.
One thing I'd recommend is taking a closer look at the flashing around your vents while you're up there. Sometimes the sealant looks fine at first glance, but if you gently press or poke around the edges, you'll notice it's brittle or pulling away slightly. If that's happening, better to tackle it now rather than wait for another midnight surprise...
Also, consider using a higher-quality roofing sealant when you patch things up. Spending a few extra bucks on something designed specifically for roofing applications can make a noticeable difference in longevity and performance. Trust me, it's worth it in the long run.
