Finding roof leaks is one of those situations that make homeowners cringe and fill with anxiety, but although no one wants to have a leaky roof, finding roof leaks early can save you lots of headaches, and can avoid lots of potential damage, so it is best to address any problems right away and not ignore them, hoping they will just go away.

Finding Roof Leaks when water is dripping into your home.

It’s a rainy day and you’re enjoying the pitter patter of rain outside from the comfort of your warm, cozy home, when all of a sudden, you see water dripping from your ceiling.  Your first thought is to panic, and maybe to swear a little, but realize that seeing the water dripping makes the process of finding roof leaks a lot easier, so take some solace in that fact.  Then, grab a bucket, pail, or bowl, and a large towel or two and make sure you can catch or soak up the dripping water until the rain stops.

It’s best to put the towel under whatever you have to catch the water, in case any water splashes out.  And just make sure that the vessel is large enough to catch the amount of dripping water – or periodically empty it so it doesn’t overflow.  You’ll have to wait until the rain is over to go check out what’s going on with your roof.

Finding Roof Leaks In The Absence Of Visibly Dripping Water

Sometimes, you won’t actually see water dripping into your home during the rain, but you notice that things are damp or there is a musty smell so you know water is coming in from somewhere.  When this occurs, the process of finding roof leaks is a bit more difficult because you can’t easily see the source of the water, but that doesn’t mean that you should ignore what you suspect is a potential leak.  If you notice dampness or a musty odor, it is best to inspect your roof – either yourself or by hiring a professional – in the area of the suspected problem, because finding roof leaks before the water is actually flowing through can save you lots of headaches down the road.

A Trip Up On The Roof

The only way of effectively finding roof leaks is to get up on the roof and see what’s going on up there.  If you feel comfortable doing that, you’ll save yourself quite a bit of money.  But if you’re not at all comfortable climbing up on the roof or you have a very high or steep roof, this job is best left to the professionals.  If water was visibly dripping into your home, it should be easier to determine exactly where the leak was coming from, but if you just sense that there is water coming in from somewhere but don’t see an actual leak, this process may be a bit more difficult.  If you are not comfortable going up on the roof, don’t delay in hiring a professional thinking you’ll save yourself some money – finding roof leaks early and addressing the problem right away will save you lots of money compared to ignoring the problem until it turns into something major.

Additional Suggestions

If you are not sure exactly where the leak is coming from, the best thing to do is to check the likely culprits in your roof for places that water would most likely penetrate.  These areas include any area of penetration, such as areas that have pipes, drains or other conduits coming through the roofing, any area that has roofing accessories installed that penetrate the membrane of the roof, or areas of seams or lapping.  In most case, there is flashing or caulking in these areas to protect the roof from leaking, but if these sealants start to fail, leaking can occur.  Areas around roof drains can be especially prone to leaking as water collects around the drain.

Other areas where you can commonly find roof leaks include areas near the perimeter of the roof, where transitions in flashings occur and expansion joints are located.  Roof locations that are not sufficiently sloped are other areas for commonly finding roof leaks because the water doesn’t run off them properly and collecting water can eventually lead to leaks.

What If You Don’t Find Any Roof Leak?

Sometimes, there is not actually a leak in the roof causing the moisture you see or suspect.  If that is the case, it may be that condensation is forming when cold exterior air contacts moist, warm interior air.  This can occur if there is an inadequate vapor barrier, insulation or ventilation in your attic.

Repairing Roof Problems Once You Find The Source

Most often, finding roof leaks early means that there is not extensive damage that needs to be addressed.  In many cases, the leak is coming from a seam, flashing or joint that needs to be resealed.  If this is the case, you can buy some roof sealant or roofing caulk from a home improvement store and reseal the area yourself (if you feel comfortable being up on the roof).  Sometimes the flashing itself needs to be replaced because it cracks or separates.  Again, this is something easily done by purchasing what you need at a home improvement store and installing the new flashing.

Don’t Ignore Roofing Leaks Once You Find Them

Sure, no one wants to find a roof leak in their home, but finding roof leaks early is not the end of the world, as long as you address the problem promptly.  Ignoring found or suspected leaks can cause far bigger problems when those small leaks persist, potentially causing structural damage to your roof or support beams below.

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