Categories: Home Improvement

How to Tell If Your Roof Leak Is Serious or Not

August 7, 2020

If a roof is not properly installed or maintained, it will eventually develop a leak. If you’ve begun to notice some potential signs of a roof leak, it’s important to understand how serious the leak is so that you can know how to proceed. After all, if a leak is serious, you’ll want to take immediate action, even if there’s no more rain in the forecast. If the link is minor, though, you may be able to wait a while if there’s no room in your budget for a repair. To help you determine the seriousness of a roof leak, here are a few signs to look for.

Growing Mold

For mold to grow, there has to be an active supply of water. Therefore, if you notice that mold spores are multiplying somewhere in your home, there’s a good chance that your roof leak is significant. On the other hand, if you notice a few mold spores growing that then begin to disappear, your roof leak is likely only minor. Either way, though, mold can cause significant respiratory issues for you and your family, so it’s important to have the leak fixed as soon as possible.

Dripping Water

If you notice water dripping from your ceiling, then it’s important to seek a roof repair quickly. For water to travel through your roof, insulation, and ceiling, it has to be coming into your home at a high rate, indicating a serious leak. While using buckets to collect leaks can save some of your interior finishes, a leak of this magnitude could cause major damage to your home if left unrepaired.

Stained Plywood

If you enter your attic and notice stains on the plywood sheathing, it’s possible that your roof has a leak. In some cases, these stains remain from old leaks that have been corrected, so they may not indicate a current issue. If, however, the area that is stained is damp, it indicates a current leak that may be getting worse as time goes on.

Extra Humidity

During the summer, humidity levels in your home are likely to be higher than in the winter. If, however, you notice humidity levels increasing to abnormal levels, it could indicate a roof leak. While a small jump in humidity may indicate a leak that is contained in your attic, a large increase could indicate a serious leak that is about to penetrate into your home’s main living space. Since high humidity levels can lead to other problems with your home, it’s important to have your roof inspected as soon as possible.

All roof leaks, no matter how large or small, should be taken seriously. Since one of your roof’s main jobs is to keep water out, if it isn’t performing this function perfectly, then you need to consult with an expert to ensure its functionality can be restored. Given the disastrous consequences that could result if you ignore this issue, it’s best to take care of roof leaks so that you can restore your peace of mind.

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