The hardest part of fixing a roof leak.
Water leaking from roof of house.
Gutters are supposed to direct water away from your roof and into the ground.
To determine if the leak is coming from defective plumbing turn off all faucets and appliances that use water in your home and write down the number on the water meter.
How to stop a leaking roof during heavy rains.
In addition to potential roof leaks clogged gutters can cause foundation damage exterior wall damage and damage to your yard or landscaping.
If the gutter is clogged some of that water will back up on the roof soaking it.
Water frequently enters the house near things that go through the roof.
But it s equally important to fix the roof leak as soon as possible to prevent more damage.
Sometimes the water shows up at a ceiling spot distant from the leak.
If the roof has been leaking for a while there may be visible signs of long term water intrusion.
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.
Don t go crazy with the water.
Run the water over the place where you think the leak might be located.
Locating the exact source can be tricky because visible signs of a leak on the inside might be several feet away from either to the left right or below the actual source.
Sure it s easy enough to spot water stains on the ceiling or mold growth sure signs of a leak.
Some roof leaks are tough to locate.
These could include mold or mildew growth stained wood or water damaged insulation.
This can allow pooling near the edge of your roof and can lead to water leaking into the eave areas of your house and down into your walls.
If the amount of water used increases that s a good sign the leak is coming from indoor plumbing.
Sometimes the roof water leak is more subtle showing up as a very small spot.
Have a helper stationed in the attic with a flashlight.
Because a bad roof leak will eventually require significant repairs both inside and outside your house.
And it doesn t stop there.
Projections or penetrations such as vents dormers and chimneys are frequent places for leaks.
A lot of times it s simply locating the problem.
Looking for roof leaks on the outside of your house.
Especially during heavy rain.
Wait at least three hours and check the water meter again.
Some of the water may leak behind the gutters down towards the soffit and the fascia.
