Why is my roof leaking.
House roof water leaking.
The hardest part of fixing a roof leak.
Have a helper stationed in the attic with a flashlight.
Projections or penetrations such as vents dormers and chimneys are frequent places for leaks.
Don t go crazy with the water.
Because a bad roof leak will eventually require significant repairs both inside and outside your house.
If the cause of a leak isn t discovered and repaired right away your home could undergo severe damage.
A lot of times it s simply locating the problem.
A standard homeowners insurance policy will cover water damage and roof leaks unless they re the result of gross negligence on your part.
Be sure to start small.
Some roof leaks are tough to locate.
Sometimes the water shows up at a ceiling spot distant from the leak.
Sometimes the roof water leak is more subtle showing up as a very small spot.
Leaky roofs never fix themselves or get better on their own.
Slow roof leaks sometimes show up in the strangest places too like water leaking from wall outlets or light fixtures.
Sure it s easy enough to spot water stains on the ceiling or mold growth sure signs of a leak.
Inspecting the underside of the roof sheeting can show signs of water damage however it is not a foolproof method so inspecting the roof for damage is needed as well.
But it s equally important to fix the roof leak as soon as possible to prevent more damage.
How to locate the source of a roof leak.
Looking for roof leaks on the outside of your house.
If your ceiling has a plastic vapor barrier between the drywall and the attic insulation push the insulation aside and look for flow stains on the plastic often water runs to openings in the vapor barrier such as at ceiling light fixtures.
During a hard rain you might also see.
Water frequently enters the house near things that go through the roof.
Water tends to travel outward from the starting point making it difficult to find the source.
Even if the roof leak is caused by a windstorm or a tree.
It is important to act quickly when it comes to a roof leak.
Even if the leak isn t bad yet.
Confirm that the source of the water on the inside of the home is a result of a roof leak and not due to a problem associated with other components of the home.
Begin by locating the leak on the inside of the home.
If you don t want to wait for rain to look for the leak try bringing the garden hose up on the roof.
Sometimes water leaks behind walls and leaches straight into your hardwood floors or floor underlayment and causes damage there as well.