A leaky roof is one of your worst fears as a homeowner and there’s no doubt it’s going to be painful to fix – a pain for your sanity and your wallet. But a roof leak is not something you want to ignore – a small drip can quickly turn into a big problem.
Depending on the severity of the leak and the damage caused, you may have to replace whole sections of your roof, not to mention the interior repairs that may be necessary. The following are the signs and causes of a leaking roof – and what you should do about it.
How Do I Know If My Roof Is Leaking?
There are several tell-tale signs of a leaky roof. To start with, you may notice that your ceiling is leaking water. If you notice wet spots on the floor following a rainfall, that is likely a leaky roof. Other signs include musty odours and smells coming from certain areas of the home, or discolouration of the wallpaper/drywall. This can mean that you have a mould growth problem as well, caused by the leaky roof. Another reason to get your roof checked for leaks would be missing shingles, as they form a water barrier between the wooden trestles that make up the roof’s structure and the elements outside. If one or more are missing, that barrier is compromised.
What Damage Can This Cause?
Leaky roofs can cause plenty of damage to your home. From the damage it causes to the trestles to the internal damage that leaking water could cause to your wall’s drywall, carpets and other flooring. Other than the physical damage, leaky roofs can cause mould growth which can be hazardous to your health if left unattended. There is so much that can go wrong with a leaky roof, you don’t want to let it leak. As soon as you discover a leak, patch it ASAP. If the leak is dripping through piping, make sure you have a plumber come and check your pipes and if necessary, do some emergency plumbing to fix any corrosion that may have occurred due to water damage.
Contact a roofing professional to help you once you have discovered the leak. Depending on the severity of the leak, you may want to place a bucket under the drip and mop up as much as you can of the water, before your roofer arrives. Also, turn on as much heat as you can in the area where the leak is to help dry out the space to stop mould from growing.
Why Do You Need A Plumber?
Plumbers are the best people to assess any damage related to the flow of water inside your home. While they often deal with blocked toilets or blocked drains, they also have the training and skills necessary to carry out assessments on your leaky roof and work with other professionals to help you fix the problems. Many plumbing services offer emergency plumbing from a 24-hour plumber, so no matter what time of day you discover your leaky roof, a plumber should be able to help you. You should seek out local plumbers that offer 24-hour service.
Other reasons to hire a plumber in the event of a leaky roof is that they will be able to source the leak and help you repair any damage to pipes and replace water systems, were they to be damaged by the leak. For example, if your hot water heater has been damaged by corrosion from a leaking roof above it, a plumber will be able to either replace or repair the heater. You’ll likely need a plumber who specialises in hot water repair.
Whatever the severity of your leaking roof, get it looked at by a roofing professional ASAP to avoid long-lasting damage to your home. And in the meantime, make sure that you hire a plumber to come and check all of your pipes, just to make sure you don’t have a second leak that could also be causing additional problems.
