If you think that your roof is leaking, then you need to do your best to locate the leak before it gets worse. Finding the source of a leak can be difficult, however, since the water’s entry point may be different from the area in which the water enters your home. Storm damage, poor-quality installation, and general wear and tear can all cause problems for your roof. If you follow several steps, then you’ll be able to find the source of your leak and be prepared to point the roofing professionals in the right direction.
What Are Some Common Causes of Roof Leaks?
Some of the most obvious causes of leaks are damaged or missing shingles. Leaks can also be caused by uncovered or poorly driven nails and screws. Vents, chimneys, skylights, and exhaust fans — not to mention the flashing and caulking around them — can also be sources of leaks. Trees can damage your rooftop by falling on it; they can also scrape your rooftop, causing damage over time. Decking the halls can also cause leaks if holiday decorations are improperly installed and damage the roof. You can also harm your rooftop by walking around on it; more damage may result if you accidentally step on a vulnerable part of your roof. Trying to fix your own roof can also cause roof leaks if you repair your roof incorrectly.
Can Other Problems Simulate Roof Leaks?
Not every bit of moisture you find in your home is evidence of a roof leak. If your roof and attic aren’t properly ventilated, then that lack of ventilation can cause condensation to form on various surfaces in your interior. Leaky pipes can also be mistaken for sources of roof leaks. If some of your attic plumbing has begun to leak, then you might notice some of the same symptoms appearing in your interior as those that a roof leak can cause. One method of telling pipe leaks and roof leaks apart is to check your water bills over the past several months; if they’ve increased, then leaky pipes are likely to be the culprit.
Find Signs in Your Home
Many leaks make themselves known by causing problems in your home. Some of them produce obvious dripping noises; if the leak is particularly bad, it may sound like rushing water. You might even be able to see the water dripping from your ceiling. Even if the water isn’t pooling that severely, it may still leave water stains on your ceiling or walls. Your drywall might also start to sag or bow out if a leak is impacting it. You may also notice the presence of mold on your walls and roof; a musty odor may accompany this mold outbreak.
Inspect Your Attic
If you can access your attic, then your next step should be to investigate your attic for signs of a water leak. Since rainwater is going to pass through your attic before it reaches your home below, you should be able to gain a better understanding of where the water is entering your house. Pools of water, dark spots, and damp insulation are all signs of a nearby roof leak. You might also be able to spot patches of mold on drywall, wood, and insulation. Finished attics might feature peeling paint in areas close to the leak. If your attic doesn’t have bright enough lighting for you to see well in it, then you should shine a flashlight in all areas that are hard to see.
Check Your Roof
Looking at the outside of your roof is another important step that you can take to find the source of your roof leak. One common source of roof leaks is shingle damage, which is often easily visible. If you notice shingles that are cracked, curled, or even missing, then this damage might be the cause of your leak. Another common source of roof leaks is damaged or improperly installed flashing. Step flashing, chimney flashing, and turbine flashing might not be working properly, allowing water to enter your premises. Other possible sources of leaks on your roof might be roof valleys, rubber seals, and fallen limbs. Be careful when examining your roof since unsafe inspection practices can cause damage to both your property and yourself.
Wet Your Roof With A Garden Hose
Trying to locate a leak in dry weather can be challenging, so you may want to recreate a rain shower in order to get to the bottom of your leak. Ideally, you should have a partner on hand who can either wet down your roof or watch for signs of a leak in your attic. One of you should start at the probable source of a leak and wet that part of the roof, simulating rainfall that will hopefully show the other person where the leak is occurring. You might need to hose down multiple parts of your roof in order to find the actual source of the leak. Once again, please use caution while up on your roof so that you can avoid harming to your roof or personal injury.
Harness the Power of Technology
Another option is to use a drone with a camera attachment to survey your roof. Whether you want to use a safer alternative to physically getting up on your roof or you need help inspecting areas of your roof that are hard to reach, you can take advantage of drone technology to help you find your leak’s source. You could also use an infrared camera to detect water utilizing thermal detection technology. These useful devices can be held in the hand or attached to a drone.
Call in the Professionals
If you’ve followed all of these steps and still haven’t discovered the source of your leak, then you should seek help from a competent roofer. A roofing expert will be able to examine your rooftop and discover the cause of your leak using high-quality equipment and experience. Another reason to seek help from professionals is that your roof and interior might have sustained more damage from the leak than is initially obvious. Your roof might need more extensive repairs than at first believed; other parts of your home might need to be fixed as well. You could also skip some of the previous steps and hire a professional to fix your roof’s leak for you in order to avoid climbing on your rooftop yourself.
Top-Notch Roofing Repairs in Omaha, NE
At Emerald Roofing, we’ve been providing high-grade roofing services to the people of Omaha and its surrounding areas since 2010. We’re capable of roof repairing, replacing, and maintaining a wide variety of rooftop surfaces. We specialize in repairing storm damage, so you can trust us to fix roofs that have been damaged by wind, hail, and other serious weather events. You can rely on us to repair, replace, or maintain your siding. We also have the tools and the skills to clean, repair, or install your gutters. Give us a call today if you want to learn more about the ways that we can improve your roof, siding, or gutters.
Contact Emerald Roofing today!