How to Find a Roof Leak in a Home
Coming home to a leaking roof can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially if you can’t seem to find the origin of it. The leak may appear in one place, but it could have originated from a different spot on the roof. Water can travel along those wires concealed above the ceiling, and along beams and boards, making detecting where the leak is coming from quite the task.
Below are the six best practices on how to find a roof leak in a home:
1. Do a water test on your roof
One of the most obvious ways to find a roof leak is to see one, and the best time is when it’s raining or during a rainstorm. However, another not-so-subtle evidence that your roof is leaking is water stains.
Whenever you see water stains on the roof or ceiling, it means your roof is leaking. However, some surfaces don’t stain; or perhaps the stains you see are old. It can be confusing if the only evidence you’re relying on is water stains.
The best way to find out where the roof is leaking is to simulate the conditions in which it leaked in the first place. It helps if it’s raining or if there’s a snowstorm since this is how water is likely to enter your home. However, in the absence of rain, aim a water hose at various parts of the roof to locate where the leak could be.
This helps you find the leak and also establishes what caused it in the first place. If, after running the hose, you don’t see any leakage, the cause could have been something else, perhaps water condensation or a leaking pipe.
2. Check the attic for roof leaks
Another way to find a roof leak is to check the attic. Estimate where from the roof the leak is coming from and get into the attic to get nearer to the source of the leak. Please bring a flashlight to enhance your visibility; it can be very dark in there.
Next, try to trace the leakage along the belly of the roof. While in the attic, estimate where the leak is by checking for your position relative to vents, chimneys, or stack lines. This will make it easy to find where exactly the leak is coming from.
The ideal time to visit the attics is when it’s raining. This way, you will see exactly where the leak is emanating from.
3. Get onto the roof to check for leaks
Since you now have an idea of the approximate area where the leak is coming from, the next step is to get onto the roof to see if you can find its exact location. Before climbing to the roof, however, take precautionary measures such as wearing non-skid shoes.
Also, make sure the roof is dry. Using the indicators you earlier marked while in the attic, such as chimneys and vents, see if you can find the leak on the outside of the roof. The next step is to check for damaged, torn or missing shingles; or those that have curled corners, damaged or missing flashing, among other signs of a compromised roof.
Should you come across damaged areas, take pre-emptive measures to protect your home, such as covering the area using a tarp, so water doesn’t continue damaging your home. This should provide temporary relief as you wait for the repair people.
4. Inspect the ceiling for water stains
Perhaps the first signs of a leak on the roof, besides water drops or streaks, are water stains on the ceiling. Discolouration, bulging drywall, or water circles on the ceiling are evidence of a leaking roof.
If the rings become more prominent with every rain, you have roof leaks. This can be an alarming development and you should call in professional roofers to help you fix this problem.
5. Inspect the roof flashings
In some cases, the cause of a roof leak may have nothing to do with worn-out or ageing roofing materials. Shoddy workmanship is another cause of roof leaks.
If, while inspecting the roof, you find leaks coming from omitted or improperly installed roof flashings, the cause of your leak is most definitely poor workmanship.
6. Inspect the roof gutter
Another source of a roof leak could be an improperly installed gutter. Debris may accumulate and back up at the edges of the roof, causing gutter back-flows or overflows. You may even find leaks in the building eaves and soffits.
Several things can cause a roof leak. These could be a poorly installed roof, an old roof that’s starting to wear off, or a storm that rips off shingles, compromising your roofing system. If you’re unable to detect the origin of a leak on your roof, get professional help.
Failing to address a roof leak on time could cost you expensive interior repairs or roof replacement. Luckily, since you now know how to detect a roof leak, you can at least minimize the damage, or avoid it altogether by practicing proper roof maintenance.
