Otherwise, seems like more work than it’s worth... unless you just love climbing ladders for fun.
I get the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” angle, but I’m a little more cautious. My place is only a few years old, but I’ve seen what a tiny crack in a vent boot can do—water found its way into the attic and started messing with the insulation before I even noticed. Not saying everyone needs to swap them out every season, but a quick check (especially after wild weather) might save a headache later. Maybe I’m just paranoid after that surprise repair bill...
That’s a really fair point about those vent boots. I’ve seen more than a few “new” roofs where a tiny split in the boot led to water tracking down the pipe and soaking insulation or even drywall. It’s wild how something so small can cause such a headache. I wouldn’t say you’re paranoid—just realistic, especially after getting burned once.
I usually tell folks: you don’t need to swap out vent boots every year, but giving them a quick look after big storms or heavy winds is smart. Sometimes you’ll spot early signs—like minor cracking or loose flashing—before it turns into a leak. If you’re already up there clearing gutters or checking shingles, it takes maybe an extra minute.
Honestly, most of the time, they’re fine for years, but all it takes is one bad winter or hailstorm to speed up wear. A little caution now can save a lot of hassle (and cash) later... learned that lesson myself after missing a cracked boot on my own place last spring.
I just went through my first winter as a homeowner and honestly, I had no idea vent boots were even a thing until I spotted a weird stain on the ceiling. Turns out, the boot was cracked—probably from all the freeze/thaw cycles we get up here in Michigan. I’m not swapping them every season, but now I’ve got “peek at vent boots” on my spring and fall checklist. It’s not hard—just climb up (carefully), look for splits or gaps, and poke at the rubber a bit. If it feels brittle or you see daylight, time to replace. Way easier than dealing with soggy drywall... trust me.
Yeah, I hear you on the vent boots—I didn’t know they existed until my inspector pointed them out during my walkthrough. I’m in Wisconsin, so probably similar freeze/thaw issues. I agree, swapping them every season feels like overkill, but checking them twice a year is totally doable. I found out the hard way too... had a little drip over my bathroom last spring. Now I keep a closer eye, and honestly, it’s way less stressful than dealing with water damage.
I’ve seen so many folks get caught off guard by those vent boots—honestly, they’re like the ninjas of roof leaks. I manage a bunch of properties in the Midwest, and every spring it’s the same story: someone calls about a mysterious drip, and nine times out of ten, it’s that little rubber boot giving up after a rough winter. Swapping them every season seems a bit much to me too, but a quick peek in spring and fall has saved me a ton of headaches (and drywall repairs). It’s wild how something so small can cause such a mess...
