How to Remove a Roof Vent Cap

A roof vent cap goes on a roof vent pipe to seal out the weather, any intrusions from small animals seeking warmth or shelter, and any objects like leaves that might fall into the pipe. Anchoring nails or screws normally hold the caps in place, but you can remove them if you need to, such as in the winter, to keep the vent from clogging up with ice. Always be careful when working on the roof, and wear rubber-soled shoes that guard against you slipping.

Ladder
Hammer/screwdriver
Pry bar

Instructions

- 1
  Position a ladder with its feet on level ground alongside the house. Lean the ladder against the house. Make sure the ladder is tall enough for you to reach the roof. Climb the ladder and onto the roof.
- 2
  Peel up the edges of the surrounding roof shingles, which cover the base of the cap, using a curved, metal pry bar. Pry the nails out of the base of the roof vent cap, if the cap is anchored to the roof shingles with nails. Use the claws of a hammer. Remove the screws, if screws are used to anchor the cap, with a screwdriver.
- 3
  Pry the base of the cap up, using the pry bar. The cap might have roof cement around its perimeter. Pull the cap up, lifting it off the roof vent underneath it.

Typical Modern Flat Roof

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