But it s equally important to fix the roof leak as soon as possible to prevent more damage.
House roof water leaking.
A standard homeowners insurance policy will cover water damage and roof leaks unless they re the result of gross negligence on your part.
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.
Have a helper stationed in the attic with a flashlight.
Water leaking behind your gutters.
Sometimes water leaks behind walls and leaches straight into your hardwood floors or floor underlayment and causes damage there as well.
Even if the leak isn t bad yet.
The hardest part of fixing a roof leak.
Sometimes the roof water leak is more subtle showing up as a very small spot.
Slow roof leaks sometimes show up in the strangest places too like water leaking from wall outlets or light fixtures.
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.
A lot of times it s simply locating the problem.
If you don t want to wait for rain to look for the leak try bringing the garden hose up on the roof.
How to locate the source of a roof leak.
Projections or penetrations such as vents dormers and chimneys are frequent places for leaks.
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.
Don t go crazy with the water.
If the cause of a leak isn t discovered and repaired right away your home could undergo severe damage.
Leaky roofs never fix themselves or get better on their own.
Because a bad roof leak will eventually require significant repairs both inside and outside your house.
Sure it s easy enough to spot water stains on the ceiling or mold growth sure signs of a leak.
Some roof leaks are tough to locate.
Water tends to travel outward from the starting point making it difficult to find the source.
Run the water over the place where you think the leak might be located.
Locating the exact source can be tricky because visible signs of a leak on the inside might be several feet away from either to the left right or below the actual source.
Be sure to start small.
Begin by locating the leak on the inside of the home.
Even if the roof leak is caused by a windstorm or a tree.
During a hard rain you might also see.
Why is my roof leaking.
Looking for roof leaks on the outside of your house.