Pitch Pan Predicaments

If you’ve ever taken a close look at your commercial roof, you might have noticed metal boxes or containers around pipes and other roof penetrations. These are known as pitch pans, and while they might seem like just another part of the roof, they play a crucial role in keeping your building dry.

  • What is a Pitch Pan? Think of a pitch pan as a protective barrier around anything that pokes through your roof—like pipes, conduits, or supports. These metal pans are filled with a sealant, creating a waterproof seal around these penetrations. Without them, water could easily sneak into your building through the gaps around these roof features.

  • Why They Matter: Roof penetrations are like Achilles’ heels for commercial roofs—they’re often the spots where leaks start. That’s where pitch pans come in. They’re your roof’s first line of defense against water infiltration in these vulnerable areas, helping to keep your building’s interior safe and dry.

The Trouble with Pitch Pans

Despite their importance, pitch pans can be a source of headaches if they’re not properly cared for. Here’s why:

  • Wear and Tear: Over time, the sealant inside a pitch pan can start to dry out, crack, or even shrink. Think of it like the caulking around your bathtub—it doesn’t last forever. With constant exposure to the elements, the sealant in pitch pans can degrade, creating gaps that let water in.

  • Installation Issues: Just like anything else, if a pitch pan isn’t installed right, it won’t do its job. If it’s not filled correctly or isn’t properly sealed to the roof membrane, water can find its way through. And once that happens, you’re looking at potential water damage inside your building.

  • Movement and Shifting: Roofs aren’t static—temperature changes and building movements cause penetrations to shift over time. When these shifts happen, they can stress the pitch pan’s seal, leading to leaks.

Keeping Your Pitch Pans Leak-Free

The good news is that with a little attention, you can keep your pitch pans in good shape and avoid leaks:

  • Regular Check-Ups: Just like you wouldn’t skip your car’s oil change, don’t skip checking your roof’s pitch pans. Regular inspections can catch small issues before they turn into big, expensive problems.

  • Get It Done Right: Whether you’re installing a new pitch pan or maintaining an existing one, make sure the work is done by someone who knows what they’re doing. Proper installation and high-quality materials are key to keeping your roof leak-free.

Taking care of your pitch pans might not be the most glamorous part of building maintenance, but it’s one of the most important. By keeping an eye on these small but mighty components, you can protect your commercial roof from leaks and extend its life.

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