conduit through the roof question (Home Depot, installed, leaks, pipes)
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My electrician had to run a line from one side of the house to the other, and ended up having to punch down into the roof on one side, and pop up out on the other side - so the conduit 90 degree box (or whatever it is) is on each side. My biggest concern is to ensure water/bugs don't get in. THey put a lot of silicone in there, he says it has a 7 yr warranty. As it is a flat roof, and is directly exposed to the Arizona heat/sun, i'm wondering if i still need to be concerned.
My electrician had to run a line from one side of the house to the other, and ended up having to punch down into the roof on one side, and pop up out on the other side - so the conduit 90 degree box (or whatever it is) is on each side. My biggest concern is to ensure water/bugs don't get in. THey put a lot of silicone in there, he says it has a 7 yr warranty. As it is a flat roof, and is directly exposed to the Arizona heat/sun, i'm wondering if i still need to be concerned.
If he used a roof flange/boot similar to this, properly installed you will have no problem. I installed hundreds of these on flat roofs.
There are other types that work just as well but if he just siliconed around a conduit that is not an approved method.
Done properly, there is no need for a lot of silicone. If the electrician was trying to fill a gap or void, silicone was the wrong material to use. There are quite a few sealants that could be used that are self leveling (you say the in/out is on the roof, not side right?) and prevent potential leaks as well as insects getting through.
As silicone is one of the worst materials to remove cleanly and effectively and even after removal, often prevent other sealants from working properly, you have what you have.
I'm surprised that some type of through penetration cap wasn't used. For example, he/she could have used liquidtite conduit and you'd have a super clean yet very effective sealing for the roof penetration.
You can still use something like that because the way it is made, removing the silicone would allow the fittings to work. You could ask about that but you know, once a trade has done something and you ask about something different, expecting a positive response isn't usually the result.
damn it, you'd think by paying them the rate they asked for, they'd do it right the first time. Now I'm going to ask them to fix that properly, as well as inspect the exterior junction box they have on the side of the house. Saw the siliconed around that, but dont remember how the wires fed from the box to the house. For that one, I care about bugs and critters getting into the walls more than anything.
Quite common in Arizona to run conduit on the roof as there are many flat roofs and no attic. Those don't leak if properly installed (not rocket science). Just be sure the conduit is up off the roof on wood blocks or whatever (so water can flow under the conduit).
Also it never rains there, so no problem! (I wouldn't worry about it...)
yes, the pipe is elevated, and I saw at home depot the roof flange in the electrical dept - a $6 part! Correct, the rain will dry up within 24 hrs but it doesn't take much water to get inside and make a mess. Plus if water gets in, so will roaches, bees, mice, etc.
He told me the silicone is good for 7 yrs, I was like, I have to maintain it now? He's pulling the I'm not a roofer excuse too.
Generally the black tar goop around all pipes and so forth popping out of a roof will crack and need a new coat of goop every so many years. Just check all those things every few years.
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