You trust in your roof to keep your family safe and secure in your home. And for the most part, it does. But your trusty roof has been having some trouble lately; namely, leaks.
Before you can get it fixed, you need to determine the cause of the leak. Here are the most common ones for your roof leaking.
10 Possibilities For Your Leaky Roof
Old Roof
There could be nothing wrong with your roof, but it’s still leaky. As with all good things, there must come an end. Unfortunately, the same can be said of your roof.
Over time, it’ll start breaking down due to weathering and usage. In that case, you’ll have to call in the professionals immediately to replace your roof.
Attic Condensation
If your home has an attic and you live somewhere where it’s humid, your attic may be to blame. Take a look around your attic and see if it smells of mildew and/or there are signs of mildew or mold growth.
When there’s extreme weather outside, such as a heat wave or some snow, the temperature difference between the outside and inside of your home can cause condensation to form inside of your attic.
If you have this problem, then your problem is two-fold. Not only do you have a leak, but you also have mold and mildew you need to treat. After you’ve taken care of everything, it’s a good idea to get a ventilation fan to prevent future problems.
Broken or Missing Shingles
If your shingles are broken, you’ll have to get on your roof to inspect it with a closer look. On the other hand, if your shingles are missing, it’ll be even easier to detect since there will be missing pieces in between one another. It’ll be very obvious you have missing shingles if there’s been a storm in your area lately and your yard is full of your loose shingles.
To solve this problem, you can have a roofer come in and replace your shingles. This should be an easy job.
Clogged Gutters
Maybe it’s been a busy year and you haven’t gotten around to clearing out the gutters. Then this is likely the culprit for your roof leak.
When the gutter is backed up with debris, you won’t see any water come out of the downspout whenever it rains. You might even be able to see the leaves poking out when you look up at the gutter.
For this leak, thankfully, you can fix it yourself. Simply get on a ladder and clear out everything in your gutters to get it flowing again.
Cracked Flashing
The flashing of your roof consists of thin metal underneath the shingles. These are meant to make your roof water-resistant so it’s more durable. Should any of the flashing crack, it’ll make your roof vulnerable to any water that runs down it.
There may also be leaking from your flashing if the sections fall out of place. Over the years, the nails can fall out or the caulk can dry up and crack, leading to the pieces falling out.
You’ll have to call a professional roofer to come to install new flashing to stop water from leaking through.
Badly Installed Skylights
It should be very easy to locate where the source of this leak is. Look where your skylight is and if there are droplets of water coming down, or there are wet spots around it, then it’s a badly installed skylight that’s letting water in.
Do note that it could possibly be an issue with your flashing. If you see leaks and wet spots located on the top of the skylight instead of the side, then it’s your flashing.
If you’re handy, you can seal the skylight with clear silicone by yourself. However, if it’s the flashing, you’ll need a professional to replace it.
Cracked Chimney
You’ll have to get up on your roof to check the top of your chimney. If anything looks worn out or cracked, then that may be the source of your leak.
It’s very possible the mortar of your chimney is worn out since all it’s made of is water, cement, and sand. Over time, it can erode. Make sure you call a roofer to come to replace your mortar.
Cracked Vent Booting
Vent booting are pipes used to keep water outside of your home. Take a close look at those little pipes that stick out on your roof. If there are any cracks on their surfaces, this can render them inefficient and you can get leaks.
Although you can do a DIY job to reseal and caulk the vent booting, we recommend you have an expert come in to make sure all moisture’s kept out.
Worn-Off Seals on Your Roof’s Valleys
As their name implies, valleys are slopes where two parts of your roof come together. In between, they need to be sealed properly so water runs down instead of through them.
Whether they’re improperly installed or it’s natural wear and tear, the seal on your roof’s valleys will have eroded, which is what’s causing your leak. This is definitely not a DIY repair job.
Buildup Of Ice On Your Roof
When you have a buildup of ice on your roof, it prevents melting snow or ice from draining. Not only will this cause a leak, but it can also cause significant damage to your roof because of the weight.
You can prevent this from happening by regularly using a roof rake. If an ice dam still forms, then you’ll have to use an ice melting product and follow its instructions carefully to prevent further damage to your roof.
Stop Your Roof Leaking Pronto
Now that you know the reasons for your roof leaking, you should take action promptly to either have it repaired or replaced. The longer you wait, the more damage will occur, so get it taken care of as soon as you can.
If you have a leak in your roof and need professional service, get in touch with us now.
