Heat-Rated Rubber Roofing Boot

It is called a pipe flashing and provides a secure seal between a pipe or flue and the roof it penetrates. The red color means that it is heat-rated to withstand high temperatures at the surface of the flue that it surrounds. You might also hear it referred to as a “heat-rated rubber roofing boot,” although the material is usually silicone. Regular non-heat-rated pipe flashings are gray or black.

    Here’s a close-up of one, and we always recommend that a pipe clamp be wrapped around the top of the pipe flashing, although one was not installed here. Eventually the material becomes less elastic and sags, but the pipe clamp will keep it snug longer.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 
Field Guide for Home Inspectors, a quick reference for finding the age of 154 brands of HVAC systems, water heaters, and electrical panels, plus 210 code standards for site-built and manufactured homes, and the life expectancy rating of 195 home components. Available at amazon.com for $19.95.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •   

  To learn more about heating and air conditioning systems, see these other blog posts:

• How can I find out the SEER of my air conditioner? 

• My air conditioner won't turn on. What's wrong? 

• How can I find out the size of my air conditioner? 

• How can I tell whether the condenser (outdoor unit) is an air conditioner or heat pump? 

• Does an old air conditioner use more electricity as it ages? 

• How did homes stay cool in Florida before air conditioning? 

• What is wrong with an air conditioner when the air flow out of the vents is low?

• Why has the thermostat screen gone blank? 

• Why does it take so long to cool a house when an air conditioner has been off for a while? 

• Why is my air conditioner not cooling enough? 

   Visit our HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.