Whether your home’s roof is approaching its full lifespan or simply suffering from hail damage or the effects of high winds, a roof leak can create costly trouble that needs to be treated promptly. Without adequate attention, a leaky roof can damage your roof decking, attic, interior walls, and more.
If you suspect a roof leak, learn how to assess if you have one. And if you know that you have a leak, discover what to do about it.
Top 5 Signs of a Leaking Roof
1. Check your ceilings for brown water marks
If you want to ensure your roof is not leaking, take a tour of your dwelling’s highest level with a powerful flashlight and inspect your ceilings. Look for stains that seem to have come out of nowhere. Pay attention to the edges and corners of your ceilings. Avoid the hazards of unhealthy mold growth, rotted framing, and damaged ceilings by finding roof leaks early and contacting a roofing contractor (like Beissel Window & Siding) to repair them swiftly.
2. Inspect your roof shingles
If moisture has penetrated your roof shingles, you may be able to spot it from the exterior of your home. Rather than climb on your roof, inspect it from the safety of the ground with a pair of binoculars. Step away from your house and scan your roof shingles through the binoculars. Look for signs of damage such as buckled or curled asphalt shingles. Also, if you notice missing shingles or an abundance of granules in your yard or at the base of your gutter’s downspout, those can also be signs of roof damage that may contribute to costly leaks.
3. Check in your attic
To verify if you have a leaky roof, take a flashlight and crawl into your attic space. Look for moisture on your insulation and see if you spot any wet or molded wood beams. Smell the attic to help detect if you have a mold issue or not. If you have water in your attic, then chances are your roof is leaking, and it is smart to address the issue promptly.
4. Look for drips during storms
When it rains, if you need buckets to catch the drips coming through your ceiling, you obviously have a roof leak that needs to be attended to as quickly as possible. Maybe you just hear the drips because they are seeping into your walls and harming your house in unseen places. Or perhaps winter ice and snow froze and thawed on your roof, which created an ice dam that then caused a tiny roof leak. Even small leaks can turn into major problems if you do not resolve them. Contact Beissel Window & Siding to inspect your roof if you see or hear water dripping inside your home when it rains or after snow thaws.
5. Inspect your gutters
Gutters may be small, but they have a big job: to channel water away from your home, safeguarding your dwelling from moisture damage. If your gutters get clogged from debris or they detach from your dwelling, they can no longer fortify your house from moisture penetration. Water can cause leaks by seeping into your roof decking and penetrating your attic, causing unwanted damage.
What to Do if Your Roof Is Leaking
Contact a reputable roofing contractor immediately
Rather than deliberate about what to do, reach out to the professionals when you suspect a roof leak. Schedule a complimentary roof inspection with Beissel Window & Siding so you can get to the root problem that needs to be resolved in a quick, efficient, and cost-effective way.
Reach out to your homeowner’s insurance company
If the leak was caused by a lack of roof maintenance, then insurance will not cover it. However, if you had a recent hailstorm or if a tree fell on your roof, insurance should cover the problem. If you spot roof leaks (particularly after a harsh storm), it would not hurt to inquire with your insurance company about any recent severe weather.
Replace damaged or missing roof shingles
If a portion of your roof shingles were damaged due to high winds, a fallen tree, or other issues, contact a roofing company to replace the problem shingles and repair any damage caused by roof leaks.
If your shingles blew off due to severe weather, poor installation, or your roof’s age, reach out to a trusted roofing contractor to replace them promptly.
Have new flashing installed
Compromised metal flashing around your vents, roof, and chimney can let water seep into your house, particularly if flashing rusts or becomes loose. Storms and high winds can cause flashing to fail, leaving your home vulnerable to water damage. Our team can inspect flashing and replace it to stop the damage.
Clean your gutters and downspouts
If your roof is leaking, take steps to get the dirt and debris out of your gutters and downspouts so water can be channeled away from your house again. Get the roof leak fixed, and have your roof thoroughly inspected so you know if and when a roof replacement will be needed.
Take Care of Your Leaking Roof Today
If you suspect a roof leak, a trusted contractor can assess the situation, help prevent further damage, and install a new roof, giving you peace of mind that your home is fortified against the elements. At Beissel Window & Siding, we offer an attractive range of top roofing materials to fit your style and budget. We will walk you through each option and make sure you feel confident with your choice.
Do not risk further damage to your home. Take a moment and learn more about how our roofing services can solve your roof issues once and for all.
