Roof Leak 101: Why Is Your Roof Leaking?

A roof leak can become a serious problem. When water enters your home, it can lead to damage to the structure. Before you can have your roof leak fixed, you have to know why it’s occurring and where the source of the leak is.

Reasons for Roof Leaks

There are a lot of different reasons for a roof leak. To determine if you have a roof leak, you should look for water damage within five hours of recent snow or rain activity. This may give you an indication of the problem. If the damage appears later, then you may have an issue with the plumbing.

How to Locate a Leak

If you think that your roof is leaking, you can ask for help from a contractor. Contractors can locate and repair leaks. However, if you would rather find the source of the leak first, you can always do some investigation on your own. When looking for the leak, remember that water runs downhill. When the moisture penetrates the roof, it usually travels down before it ends up in the underlayment. As the water seeps through the underlayment, it will reach the seam in the sheathing. Then, it can drop to the insulation or travel down the rafter.

If you have a pitched roof, it is a lot easier to find the source of the leak. You can locate where the leak is in your home, then transfer said area to your roof. You need to decide whether the water is coming from the ventilation system, the pipes, the chimney, or the skylight. Always look within the first five feet uphill of the leak. Sometimes it can be further away. If you cannot find penetrations, or if you do not find a leak the flashing, you may need a contractor to locate it.

When it comes to roof leaks, you never want to leave the problem alone. These issues only get worse over time and can lead to a lot of damage, not to mention mold.