Roof Leaking? What to Do Right Now
Water is coming through your ceiling. It's stressful, and you want it to stop. Here's what to do right now, step by step.
1. Make it safe
If water is near lights, outlets or anything electrical, turn off power to that area at your breaker box. Water and electricity don't mix.
If the ceiling is sagging or bulging with water, keep people and pets out from under it.
2. Catch the water
Put a bucket, pot or trash can under the drip. Lay towels around it to stop splashes. If the drip is spread out, a tarp or plastic sheet on the floor helps.
3. Move your things
Move furniture, electronics, rugs and anything important away from the wet area. In a business, protect inventory, computers and files first.
4. Take photos and notes
Snap photos of the water, the stain and anything damaged. Then jot down a few things:
When did it start?
Does it leak when it rains, when snow melts, or both?
Does it drip right away or hours later?
Has it leaked here before?
These answers help us find the leak faster.
5. Call us
Call (509) 842-6611. We aim to respond to active leaks within 24 hours.
Where roofs leak most
GAF, the largest roofing manufacturer in North America, says about 95% of roof leaks happen at flashing points. Those are the spots where the roof meets something else. Here's where we find leaks most:
Chimneys. The flashing around the base loosens, rusts or pulls away from the brick.
Roof-to-wall spots. Where a roof runs into a wall or dormer, water can get behind the siding and go unseen for a long time.
Valleys. Where two roof slopes meet, more water runs through than anywhere else on the roof.
Pipe boots and vents. The rubber seals around plumbing pipes crack with age and sun.
Skylights. If the flashing around them fails, water finds its way in.
Roof edges. Missing or failed drip edge lets water get under the shingles and rot the deck.
Other common causes
Missing or damaged shingles. Wind can lift or tear them off.
Ice dams. Snow melts, refreezes at the roof edge, and pushes water back under the shingles.
Clogged gutters or drains. Water backs up instead of draining away.
Open seams on flat roofs. Seams are where many flat roofs leak first.
Attic condensation. Sometimes it's not a roof leak at all. Poor ventilation can make moisture drip inside the attic.
What happens when we get there
Finding a leak isn't always as simple as looking for a hole above the stain. Water can get in at one spot and travel along the roof deck or rafters before it drips somewhere else.
Here's how we track it down:
We start with your story. When it started, rain or snow, and how long it has been going on.
We check inside. Ceilings, walls and the attic, to see where the water is traveling.
We go on the roof, top to bottom. Flashings, vents, valleys, seams, the deck and anything else that could let water in.
We show you what we found. With photos, so you can see it for yourself.
When we can, we stop the leak on the spot. Then we give you your options: fix just the leak, fix everything we found, or do nothing for now. It's your call.
Our leak investigations are free, for homes and businesses.
Learn more about our roof repair service, or read Why Your Roof Leaks When the Snow Melts.
Don't wait on a leak
A small leak can turn into wet insulation, a rotted deck, stained ceilings and mold. The sooner it's found, the smaller the fix usually is.
Or call (509) 842-6611.
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