Had a similar run-in on a job last summer. Homeowner kept insisting the shingles were defective because of weird moisture stains popping up randomly on the attic ceiling. We climbed up there expecting some shoddy roofing to blame, but nope—turned out the bathroom fan was just venting straight into the insulation. A quick fix once we figured it out, but damage was already done. Mold was just starting to set in around the edges, nothing major yet, but enough to get pricey if left unchecked.
Honestly, makes me wonder how often this gets overlooked on inspections. Most people only go up there when something's obviously wrong, and by then it's usually a bigger headache. I'd bet good money there's plenty of attics quietly rotting away from something as simple as a misplaced vent hose. Always worth taking a quick peek up there every now and then...
Had something similar happen at my parents' place a few years back. They kept blaming the roof, but turned out the dryer vent hose had come loose and was blowing hot, moist air straight into the attic. Easy fix, but like you said, damage was already creeping in. Makes you wonder how many attics are quietly suffering from these simple oversights. Good catch on your end—probably saved them a ton of headaches down the road.
"Makes you wonder how many attics are quietly suffering from these simple oversights."
Exactly. It's surprising how often moisture issues in attics get misdiagnosed as roof leaks. A few years ago, I had a similar issue—turned out the bathroom exhaust fan wasn't vented properly and was dumping humid air straight into the attic space. Took me weeks of chasing phantom roof leaks before figuring it out. Regular attic inspections and checking vent connections can save a lot of trouble down the line... hindsight is always 20/20, though.
Good point about the bathroom fan—seen that happen more times than you'd think. Another sneaky culprit is attic insulation blocking soffit vents. Ever checked if your insulation's pushed too far into the eaves? It can trap moisture and cause condensation issues that look exactly like leaks. Might be worth a quick peek next time you're up there... could save you some headaches later on.
- Good call on the insulation—seen that plenty myself.
- Also, check your flashing around vents and chimneys. Sneaky little gaps there can mimic leaks too.
- Roofs have a weird sense of humor...mine once "told" me about a leak by dripping right onto my coffee maker. Talk about personal attacks.
- Quick attic check never hurts, unless you're like me and always smack your head on the rafters...
