How To Know If A Roof Leak Is Active

Leaks may even travel down rafters and show up away from the original source.

How to know if a roof leak is active.

Ceiling or roof spots. If you see drips moisture on the walls or moisture stains but don t see them often you may still have a leak in your roof. It trickles down your walls chips off paint soaks your carpet and promotes mold growth. Very rarely is the leak directly above the place it shows up water tends to travel along rafters ceiling joists drywall joints etc.

But over time the ceiling or wall located directly below the leak will start to appear discolored. Evidence of these conditions includes. When you see algae growing on the roof it s clear you have a moisture problem. It s best if you can see the leak as it occurs.

Before it makes its grand entrance. The discoloration from active water intrusion will look different from the general discoloration you might have seen in older houses or in homes where a heavy smoker lived. Water will reflect light so bring a flashlight along. An active leak is a condition where the roof would not protect the interior of the dwelling from water intrusion.

So these are the common causes of roof leaks. On a nice day have a helper tap on the mark while you re on the roof. Traveling leaks mean expensive water damage repairs and it s a sign that the leak may have been active for a long time. Typically a leaking roof starts off without anyone even noticing.

Stains can be used to locate roof leaks but they may not reveal the entire story behind the roof leak. If you notice discoloration on your ceiling or walls take a closer look for mold moisture and other telltale signs of a leak. Once you locate the source of the water mark the area. If the leak has spread through the roof and attic far from where it began you have a serious problem.

Most of the time the typical homeowner finds it difficult to know the source or the causes of roof leaks and how to fix and solve them. When water gets through you may see water stains in your ceiling. This is a generalization and does not represent all situations but is geared towards explaining what color the stain is when it did leak from that heavy rain we got last night. You could also use a pencil to outline the current stain then see if it enlarges.

If you have an attic the easiest way to spot the leak is to up there on a rainy day. The list of consequences goes on. Roof leak warning sign 9. Algae and mold are growing near the leak.

If an entire summer season passes and the brownish color stain never changes then it is probably safe to say that the roof leak is not active. After the allotted time and still dry use some primer sealer then paint. Leaks may appear around chimneys and vents.