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How to Find a Roof Leak in 8 Simple Steps | Leaky Roof Help

February 20, 2024 by Josh H.
how to find a roof leak

Want to know how to find a roof leak in a few simple steps? As you already know, leaking roofs require immediate attention to avoid severe roof damage. However, the problem isn’t usually fixing leaky roofs; it’s finding the source of the leak in the first place.

Today, the Legacy Roofing Boise, ID team will share our eight simple steps to locate a roof leak, why you need to get your repairs done quickly, and other roofing tips! Let’s explore!

Signs of a Roof Leak

Similar to when your grass has issues, there are some telltale signs that you have a roof leak. The pooling water on the floor or ceiling stains are usually substantial indicators you have a roof leak!

Common signs you have a roof leak are pretty simple: you have water damage. Water damage can come in many forms, including:

  • Mold growth or mildew
  • Sagging drywall
  • Water stains
  • Dripping water
  • Pooling water on the floor area
  • Wet insulation
  • Abnormal humidity inside your home

Areas Prone to Roof Leaks

There are specific areas on your roof that almost all professional roofers know to inspect since they are known roof penetration areas for water. Those common areas prone to roof leaks include:

  1. Anywhere something sticks out of your roof: Around chimneys, vents, skylights, pipes, and where there are flashing or seals.
  2. Roof valleys and eaves
  3. Clogged gutters or damaged gutters
  4. Missing siding can lead to exterior walls leaking

Find & Repair Leaks Quickly to Prevent Roof Damage

While you might not want to deal with costly roof leaks, you don’t want to replace your roof with all-new roofing materials and shingles. Replacing your entire roof is sometimes the solution. However, if you catch a roof leak early enough, you can fix it and prevent future leaks.

Use our simple 8-step guide on how to find a roof leak below!

How to Locate a Roof Leak – Before it Damages Your Home!

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Here are the simple steps to find a roof leak. That said, sometimes the inside of your home may not expose the full extent of a leaking roof, and if you can’t see the leak – we always recommend calling a professional roofer to help.

1. Make sure you don’t have an interior leak!

The best way to find out where your roof leak is coming from is to ensure you actually have a roof leak—dripping water when no storms are present can mean you have a leaky pipe, not a leaky roof. While most roof leaks will be around in the attic, if you have interior wall leaks, it could be from your interior plumbing, not the roof.

2. Water stains inside

Ok, you know it isn’t a plumbing leak, but you have water stains on your ceiling or interior walls. Chances are, you have a roof leak from a vent or pipe on your roof, and it is traveling around your attic and dripping onto the said area. Water stains are strong indicators of a roof leak, so you must inspect where the leak is coming from.

3. Inspect your attic.

roof leaks

If you have a leaking roof, you will find the source in the attic. You will need attic access and proper lighting to find roof leaks in your attic. Once in your attic, remember to be safe and use a flashlight or light fixture to inspect the roof areas and rafters.

What are you looking for?

You are looking for missing nails, black stains, wet spots, sagging rofo boards, wet insulation, and anything that has water essentially.

4. Inspect Step Flashing and Roof Vents

The most common causes of roof leaks are flashing or roof pipes/vents. These areas allow water to penetrate your roof, thus causing a leaky roof. Inspecting your flashing and roof vents on your own isn’t advisable; to do this, you will need to have a professional roofer inspect your roof. They know what signs to look for (cracks, peeling, etc).

5. Look for Damaged Shingles

Damaged or missing shingles will quickly become leak-prone areas if you don’t fix them, whether you live in Boise or elsewhere. Unlike metal roofing systems, shingles are layered on one another, and when they are damaged or missing, they leave the roof decking exposed to the elements. Over time, the roof decking can rot and wither, leading to even structural damage.

6. Inspect Plumbing Vent Boots & Pipes

When a leak appears, the first place to check your attic space is the pipes sticking out of your roof. Almost all roof leaks come from protrusions in your roof. Oftentimes, a new perma blood around your pipe with the correct glue/sealant application is the simple fix – but even this needs to be done by a roofer. The crazy thing is you might have a water stain 10 feet from the vent pipe. However, roof leaks can travel down rafters.

7. Look for shiny or exposed nails

Obvious signs like missing shingles or stains are easy for homeowners to spot. However, an expert roofer can locate exposed nails or improper nailing patterns that may be causing leaks.

8. Use a Garden Hose to Find a Roof Leak

If you are absolutely positive you have a roof leak but you don’t know where the source of the leak is, you can use your garden hose. Here is how:

  1. Spray your roof with a garden hose evenly
  2. Have someone on the inside of your attic look for water entering the house from the roof
  3. When they see the moisture, that is where the leak is
  4. Note: This takes multiple people and requires physical labor, so we don’t necessarily recommend this method. Instead, call a professional roofing company.

Professional Roofers in Boise – Roof Leak Repair

Most homeowners don’t want to deal with a roof leak or a new roof or even have to worry about their roof. However, if you have leak damage, repairs to your roof are vital to prevent further issues.

Don’t let a potential leak go unnoticed and damage your roof significantly. Instead, contact Legacy Roofing if you’re in or around Nampa, Meridian, or Boise for a roof inspection.

➡️ You can get a FREE roof inspection, no questions asked, here. ⬅️

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%roofing company boise% - %boise roofing shingles%Marie Michel
19:51 24 Aug 23
I had Legacy Roofing replace my roof in the middle of summer and the workers were very hard working. The cleanup when they were done was impeccable. Close attention to detail.The professionalism and responsive care were without flaw. Anytime I had a question I would leave a text or message and I would get prompt responses.My roof looks beautiful and I got the exact color of roof shingle I wanted.I would without reservation recommend this company to anyone wanting to get their roof replaced.
%roofing company boise% - %boise roofing shingles%Paul Needham
23:11 06 Aug 23
Chuck was great to work with. He always responds quickly! Very pleased with our experience! Thank you!
%roofing company boise% - %boise roofing shingles%Wdn.L
16:33 05 Aug 23
I contacted Legacy Roofing to inquire about getting a quote. They came by the next day. The quote came in slightly lower than the others. I was able to get scheduled right away. Chuck was nothing but professional and cortious. Great customer service. The crew showed up about 6:30 in the morning and the entire project was completed by the time I was home from work. The roof looks amazing and we are very pleased with the outcome. I would not hesitate to recommend them.
%roofing company boise% - %boise roofing shingles%Matt Perdue
18:23 27 Jul 23
I would highly recommend Legacy Roofing! We had a bus hit the corner of the roof. I called, and they were out within an hour and looked at the roof and took care of us. Take it from someone who was in the service industry for years. Legacy roofing is the company you want to take care of your roof. From start to finish excellent service. Thanks, Legacy Roofing.
%roofing company boise% - %boise roofing shingles%Tammara Harris
18:19 23 Jul 23
We had our roof replaced within a week of meeting with Chuck. His team had the job complete in one day from tear off to installation and Chuck came back for final inspection and minor cleanup the following day. The price was right and the materials top notch. I recommend Legacy roofing for anyone's roofing needs!
%roofing company boise% - %boise roofing shingles%Gary Fujino
13:47 16 Jun 23
Had an almost 30 year old shake roof which was constantly pealing off with wind and storms. Finally got a new roof from Legacy and am very pleased with the results. Chuck, the owner, is very responsive to communications and his guys did a great job on the roof. Highly recommend him for your roofing needs.
%roofing company boise% - %boise roofing shingles%Jeff Mills
19:08 26 May 23
Chuck and the guys at Legacy are amazing! I rarely leave 5-star reviews, but Legacy deserves it! We called three roofing companies last fall for estimates and Chuck was the only one that showed up. Not only that, but he even arrived early for our inspection and estimate. No high pressure, no upselling, he just gave us our options and let us decide on the level of roof we wanted. He was very responsive and returned messages and answered questions very quickly. The crew arrived early on the day our roof was scheduled and got started immediately. They were done in one day and we had a complete tear-off and replacement, in fact they even finished up early. The roof looks fantastic and they even fixed a problem we had from a tree crashing into the eave of our house. We just had a tree limb come down and knock a hole in our roof. Chuck did the repair for us and once again the crew was here early and did a fantastic job. We even got next day service. I highly recommend Legacy and Chuck is just a really nice guy too! 🙂
%roofing company boise% - %boise roofing shingles%Jonathan Gaige
18:30 19 May 23
Chuck was amazing! Very knowledgeable about my roof. He looked over the whole roof and inspected the new solar panels that were installed. Had a few recommendations for the solar panels on our flat roof to bring up to the solar company. Very easy to work with, respectable, and just an all around great person! I will always call legacy for any roof related issue on my house. 5 stars all the way!
%roofing company boise% - %boise roofing shingles%

FAQ:

What is the best way to find the exact location of a leak?

The best way to locate a leak in your roof is to call a roofer. However, while you wait, you can inspect the attic, look for missing shingles, and see if you can track water dripping.

What are the most common causes of roof leaks?

The most common causes of roof leaks include missing or damaged shingles, broken flashing or seals, improper installation of roofing materials, aging roofs, or debris like leaves clogging gutters or areas of your roof.

Why should I get a professional roof leak repair?

A professional roofing company will not only correctly fix your roof leak, but they will also warranty it and inspect your roof for other issues. There are also numerous dangers when you climb on your roof!

What areas of the roof are most prone to leaking?

Clogged gutters, roof valleys, roof sheathing, damaged shingles, and where things like vents or chimneys protrude from our roof are the familiar places for leaks. Sometimes, your home’s siding or soffit vents will cause leaks, though usually, this is not as common.

Category: Exterior Remodeling, Roof Repairs, Roofing Tips
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