Do I need pitch pans around the HVAC lines on my flat roof?

From down below, the roof looks calm and collected, but those tiny HVAC openings could be cooking up some trouble.
Up on this Chicago low-slope roof, multiple HVAC line set penetrations were sitting in old, cracked sealant that was no longer doing its job.
And no, this wasn’t a “slap some tar on it and hope for the best” situation.

Anchor Point Roofing removed the old failing material, cleaned around each penetration, and installed custom metal pitch pans. Think of a pitch pan as a small metal box built around the pipes and lines where they pass through the roof.
Each pan was carefully prepared, sealed into the roofing membrane, and filled with pourable sealant to create a watertight barrier around the penetrations.

Basically, we gave each pipe opening its own little waterproof fortress. We can’t control Chicago weather, but we can help make sure the water stays on the right side of the roof.
This project is a great reminder that flat-roof leaks don't always start in the middle of the roof. Sometimes, the trouble starts with the small details—cracked sealant, loose patches, aging boots, or poorly protected penetrations.

If your roof penetrations are starting to look more “uh-oh” than “all good,” it may be time to have them checked before a tiny opening turns into a very expensive ceiling surprise.
Need pitch-pan repair or low-slope roofing service in Chicago? Anchor Point Roofing is here to help protect the details that keep your roof doing its job. Schedule an inspection and let’s find the weak spots before the next storm does.

Location: Chicago, IL