I recently had a new roof put on my house and during the installation, they broke a vent pipe and then put roofing shingles over it. I didn't know what this vent was until I was told by a friend that is was the kitchen sink vent. What are the consequences of this vent pipe now "roofed" over and below the roof surface? Should I call the roofer back to fix this problem?

Yes, you should DEFINITELY demand that the roofer return immediately and fix his incompetent screw-up AT NO COST TO YOU.

I don't know where he got the nerve to call himself a "roofer" - I don't want to start name-calling openly, but the name I would prefer to call him rhymes with "plucking ash sole", if you catch my drift. Blocking a vent like that is dangerous, illegal, against code, and just plain damn stupid. The sewer gasses are prevented from escaping, and - more importantly - the lack of venting can result in a siphon condition inside the pipes, which will suck the water out of the fixture traps, allowing sewer gas a free first-class ticket into your home.

Call that so-called "roofer" back to fix it up (at his OWN expense) ASAP - if you forget about it and let it slide for too long, you'll only make it easier for him to tapdance out of his responsibility. Get 'em while it's hot! ;)

Let us know what happens, please.
Moishe

Moishe and Speedball,

Thank you very much for answering this question. You gave me the motivation to call the roofer back. He came back and without question, fixed the problem. The vent is now in place and my mind is at ease. Thanks again for your input.

No problem, that's what we're here for. ;)

And thanks for getting back to us - we really appreciate knowing the end of the story. You can't imagine how annoying it feels when someone asks for help, we give it, and then we never hear from the person again, leaving us to wonder what happened in the end. So your report is much welcomed.

Glad everything turned out OK!

Cheers,
Moishe