sometimes a little maintenance goes further than a full replacement.
That’s been my approach too—just keep an eye out for cracks and re-seal as needed. But I always wonder, is there a trick to spotting leaks early before they get bad? I’ve missed them before and paid for it...
I get the whole “just keep an eye out” thing, but honestly, those vent boots are sneaky little troublemakers. I’ve seen ‘em look fine from the ground, then you get a good rain and suddenly you’re playing “find the drip” in your attic. Sometimes, by the time you spot a crack, water’s already found its way in and started messing with your decking or insulation. Personally, I swap mine out every few years—cheap insurance compared to fixing water damage. Plus, climbing up there gives me an excuse to avoid mowing the lawn...
I get where you’re coming from—leaks from vent boots are no joke. But honestly, I think swapping them every couple years might be overkill for most folks, unless you’ve got a bunch of trees dropping debris or your weather’s really rough. I’ve seen boots last a decade or more if they’re the higher-grade rubber or even the lead type. I usually just check ‘em up close every spring and after big storms. Found a tiny split once, sealed it up with some flashing tape, and it held for another two years. Sometimes a little maintenance goes a long way... plus, less time on the roof in August is a win in my book.
- Seen a lot of vent boot failures after hailstorms—sometimes the split isn’t obvious until water’s already inside.
- In my area (Midwest, lots of freeze/thaw), I recommend checking boots twice a year, especially after rough weather.
- Had a client with 8-year-old lead boots—still solid, just needed a dab of sealant where squirrels chewed.
- Swapping every couple years? Probably not needed unless you’re in a spot with constant debris or wild temp swings.
- Quick visual checks and sealing small cracks have saved me and my clients plenty of headaches... and cash.
I get the logic behind just checking and sealing as needed, but I’m not totally convinced it’s enough for everyone—especially if you’re on a tight budget and can’t risk hidden water damage. My place is a 90s ranch with a low-pitch roof, and after a couple of surprise leaks (one after a hailstorm, one after a weirdly warm/cold winter), I started swapping out the cheaper rubber boots every 3-4 years. They’re not expensive, and honestly, the peace of mind is worth it for me. I tried the “just seal the cracks” approach and still ended up with a stained ceiling once because I missed a tiny split.
Maybe overkill for some, but with all the freeze/thaw cycles here, I’d rather spend $15 every few years than deal with drywall repairs. If you’ve got lead boots or better quality, sure, stretch them out. But with the basic ones, I’d lean toward more frequent replacement—especially if you’re not up for crawling around the attic looking for leaks after every storm.
