Got a Leak? How to Find It and What You Can Do About It

A leak may seem like a huge deal. And it can be if it isn’t fixed. After all, the damage often multiplies the longer a leak is left to do what it does. From your valuables, to the electrical to the very foundation of your house itself. These are all things that depend on your roof not leaking.

When you suspect you have a leak then you have to act quickly. Finding it and then fixing it as quickly as possible is the best way to prevent damage. But, how do you find a leak and then can you fix it yourself?

Let’s dive in and take a look at what you need to do if you think you have a leaky roof.

This is actually a tricky part since the leak might not be exactly where it seems. Especially if you have a pitched roof. A leak can be closer to the top of the pitch but then travel down under the shingles where it reveals itself in another spot.

To get to the bottom of things, you’ll need a friend to help you out since you’ll have to use a ladder more than likely to get on the roof. If you can’t do this safely, then we recommend going with one of your local roofing companies, such as APEX Roofing, as accidents can easily happen on your roof.

First start inside your attic by removing the insulation to see if you can spot where the wet spots are or signs of water damage. Then, have your friend run a hose over the roof to see exactly where it is coming into the attic.

The most likely culprit is that there are old and cracked shingles. Over time, the asphalt on them dries out and the heat and cold will cause cracks to start. Even then the wind and rain will wash away chips of the shingles to the point that they are not able to stop water from coming in.

If you’ve had a particularly bad storm, then you may have even had a shingle fly off of the roof entirely.

Also, you may want to look at the seal around any chimneys or vents as the sealant can also dry and end up causing leaks.

The best course of action is to hire a roofer to come and fix your roof. The problem may be that you have to wait a while and the leak can cause more damage while you wait.

The easiest option if the roofer can come relatively quickly is to put a tarp down over the roof if you know rain is coming. It can easily fly off, though so make sure that it is a variety that can be tied down.

If the leak is around the chimney or vents then use some sealant to fix it for a while. To properly fix it, you’ll need to remove the flashing and redo the entire thing so a quick seal can get you through until the roofer can come by.

Published in: Home advice | Author: Yanita