A leaky roof is a serious matter — even a small leak can cause severe damage. It’s best to contact a professional as soon as you notice your roof is leaking or you see water dripping into your home. However, while you wait for them to come, you’ll want to minimize the amount of damage the leak does. So what should you do in the meantime to stop the water and prevent further damage? Learn what to do when your roof is leaking and how to protect your home with the following steps.
Remove items from around the roof leakage
When you first find a leak, it’s hard to tell how fast it will progress. The first thing you should do is start by moving any furniture or other belongings, especially electronics, away from the water, and out of the room if possible. As an added safety measure, you should also cover any outlets near the leak to avoid the risk of electrocution and electrical damage.
Contain the water
After clearing the space, it’s time to grab a bucket and towels to contain the water. Place a bucket, large bowl, or other container under the ceiling to stop the water from spreading. If your container is too shallow or narrow, water can splash out of it onto your floor or other items. As your container fills, track the amount of water you’ve gathered and empty it as necessary.
To prevent mold and mildew from growing, it is important to keep the area as dry as possible. This can also minimize water damage to your floors and prevent them from warping. Make sure to sop up any excess water on the floor with towels or a mop and dry the area underneath your container as well. If the area is still damp after this, using a fan can also speed up the drying process. Just don’t plug it in too close to the leak!
Inspect the area to find possible sources of the leak
Now that the leak is contained, it’s time to start your investigation. Take note of when the water drips the most and when it starts. You’ll want to determine:
- What part of the ceiling is it dripping from?
- Is it coming from the attic or a lower floor?
- Does it happen during a rainstorm?
- Does it show up only after a rainstorm?
- How about when the shower is running?
Finding out the source of a leak can help you figure out what the next is in stopping the spread of your leak. This is also vital information to share with your leak detection and repair company to help them more quickly diagnose and repair the leak.
As you investigate, you should also take note of any water damaged areas and take photos. Photos and timestamps are helpful for insurance documentation, and can save you a headache down the line.
Call a professional leak repair specialist
There are many reasons a roof can leak. When you hire a roofing company or contractor to fix your leak, they will be viewing the project through a very narrow lens and may not consider all the intersection points and other mitigating circumstances. Instead, call a leak repair specialist like Dr. Leaks. With expertise in finding and repairing leaks throughout the home and building envelope, our detection and repair team looks at all factors that may cause your leak in order to fix more than just the surface level issues — stopping your leak for good. Find more information on our roofing services here.
Our Philadelphia-based team has comprehensive expertise across roofing, plumbing, and interior and exterior waterproofing, with the knowledge to diagnose and fix even the most mysterious leaks.
Reach out to us today to schedule a free consultation.
Leaking roof FAQs
Is a leaking roof an emergency?
Whatever size a roof leak may appear, it is always important to get it checked out as soon as possible. A small leak can quickly escalate and cause massive problems, and a large leak may lead to expensive damage to your property or even a whole new roof. Inside your house, a roof leak can cause water to pool into the ceiling, which can quickly cause your ceiling to collapse if there is too much pressure above. Even if the leak doesn’t seem severe on the surface, water damage can form and spread underneath, creating even more damage. To protect your home, make sure to call a leak repair company as soon as you discover water dripping to save you time, money, and extra work.
How long can you leave a leaking roof?
When your roof is leaking, there is no clear timeline on how long it will take for damage to occur. From the first drip, it’s a race against time to stop your leak from spreading and causing damage to your home. Several variables play a role here, so always do your best to have the roof leaks fixed ASAP.
What are the causes of roof leaks?
There are many reasons why a roof can leak, and sometimes, it may not even be the roof. That’s why we recommend coming to the leak detection and repair experts, as a roofer may not be able to detect the source of the leak. With Dr. Leaks, you can rest assured that we will find and fix your leak — for good. Reach out to us today to schedule a free consultation.
