Water Leak In Attic

Loss of insulating value.

Water leak in attic.

By the time you find a fireplace leak your attic is likey already suffering from water damage water entry gone undetected for too long is something we chimney sweeps see often especially in kansas city with our unpredictable seasons. Here s how to locate the leak spots and plug them without spending a lot of money. So what is causing the water leak. While some leaks are totally silent for instance if water is traveling along a wall stud other leaks can sometimes be heard giving you a clue as to the leak s location.

Attic condensation is due to humid air leaking or vented into the attic. If your ceiling has a plastic vapor barrier between the drywall and the attic insulation push the insulation aside and look for flow stains on the plastic often water runs to openings in the vapor barrier such as at ceiling light fixtures. Square hole that s acting like a chimney drafting expensive heated. With these systems condensate leaks can lead to a big mess but it s nothing compared to a condensate leak that occurs at an air conditioner in an attic or really any place that has finished.

Even if the seemingly easiest way to find and trace the path of water coming from a roof leak is via the attic you should never attempt to open up a sealed attic by creating a hole on the ceiling. Over time algae can grow inside of this drain line causing backups or clogs. Staining on the exposed chimney in the attic often reveals which side of the chimney water begins its travel to other areas. The two most common types of insulation fiberglass batts and blown in cellulose loose fill are vulnerable to attic water damage in two specific ways.

Sometimes the water shows up at a ceiling spot distant from the leak. We ve seen hvac units located in attics and on second floors. Chances are your ceiling has the equivalent of a 2 ft. Other ceiling water leaks.

If water is dripping from your ceiling and your furnace and or air handler is located in the attic the most likely cause is a clogged condensate drain line. Some roof leaks are tough to locate. We have also seen water supply lines from water softeners that are run through attic spaces. Often older homes conceal various pipes and wiring behind it you might end up damaging them in your attempt to enter your attic.

Many times water leaks are a result of a broken water line on the second floor or in the attic. Small air leaks into uninsulated attic space are a major source of heat loss in many homes.