While a small roof leak might not be anything to panic about right now, it’s something that requires action. Over time, that small leak will become something much bigger in terms of damage to your home, disruption to your life, and money out of your pocket.
Keep reading to learn the signs of a small roof leak, what will happen if it doesn’t get fixed, and steps you can take now to repair it.
Signs That Your Roof Is Leaking
Small leaks aren’t as in-your-face as big leaks. In fact, they may be hard to spot when they first start. But there are certain warning signs you can look for that will let you know when something’s not right with your roof:
- Missing or damaged shingles
- Rusty nails in the attic
- Wet items on the floor of your attic
- Attic insulation is saturated
- Smell of mold or mildew
- Ceiling stains in your home
- Damaged paint or discolored walls
- Water dripping from light fixtures
- Water dripping from vents
The way your roof looks from the outside isn’t always the best indicator that you have a leak. All it takes is for a crack in a shingle for your roof to start accumulating water in the wrong places.
What Can Happen If You Don’t Fix a Small Leak
Small leaks never just stay small. Here are some things that can happen if your small leak turns into a big problem:
Structural Erosion
As water seeps through your roof and into your home, it can break down and rot the wood within it. Places like your roof deck, rafters, and trusses will all be affected. If the leak goes on for long enough, it can start to warp and discolor your walls and make your ceilings sag. The worst case scenario is that enough water collects on the roof that it causes your walls to crack, your structure to degrade, and the roof to collapse.
Ineffective Insulation
When the insulation in your building gets wet and stays that way, it’s going to cause a lot of problems. For starters, it’ll contribute to the erosion of your home’s structure as well as corrosion of the fasteners and steel studs holding it together. Also, wet insulation can’t do its job, which is why it’s common to see your AC and heating costs skyrocket when you have a leak.
Mold and Mildew
When moisture gets trapped within your home, mold and mildew grow. It might not happen within your common spaces right away, but it’ll definitely impact places like your attic as well as within your walls. Mold and mildew don’t just smell, they can also negatively impact the quality of your air and, consequently, your health.
Damaged Belongings
Because small roof leaks usually affect the attic first, it’s common for the personal items you store there to get damaged before anything else. If the water makes its way into the main parts of your home, other items may experience water damage, like wallpaper, artwork, furniture, carpets, and more.
Bug Infestation
An accumulation of excessive moisture isn’t just a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. Moisture and rotting wood can attract pests like dust mites, centipedes, cockroaches, silverfish, and carpenter ants.
Electrical Hazards
Leaks eventually degrade the structures of your home that keep electricity sources protected. If water reaches your electrical wiring or outlets, for example, it could cause a short circuit and even an electrical fire. Water-damaged wires can also increase the risk of electrical shocks and power outages.
What to Do If You Have a Leaky Roof
If you’ve noticed the signs of a leak in your roof, here’s what you need to do:
- Do a quick internal inspection of your attic and home, and note down all the tell-tale signs you see.
- If a leak has sprung in your ceiling or a fixture, place a bucket beneath it to capture the water.
- Remove your belongings from the affected areas or cover what you’re not able to move.
- Call your roofing contractor to inspect the issue. They’ll identify the source of the leak, document how extensive the damage is, and give you estimates to fix it.
- Review your roof warranty and see what it says about getting leaks repaired to ensure you don’t unintentionally void the warranty.
- Contact your insurance company if water has damaged any of your belongings.
If you’re looking for a roofing contractor to help you out with a leak or inspection, give Foster Roofing a call at 479-751-2300 (NWA) or 479-308-0413 (River Valley).
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Is It Okay to Ignore Small Leaks?
In short, no. Small leaks require just as much attention as big leaks, though perhaps not in as urgent of a timeframe.
Even if you’re just starting to notice the signs of a small leak, there’s no time to waste. Small leaks inevitably lead to costly issues as well as dangerous situations like, structural damage, air quality degradation, bug infestation, electrical fires, loss of personal belongings, and more.
Here are some final tips you can use to keep the costs, disruption, and damage of a small leak to a minimum in the future:
- Schedule regular roof inspections, at least every 6 to 12 months.
- If you’re not already in the habit, visit your attic semi-regularly.
- Keep an eye out for small leaks even if it’s not raining or snowing.
- Clean your gutters of debris whenever you can to prevent overflow and backup.
- Maintain your landscaping to reduce roof damage from falling trees or branches.
- Replace your roof on time, usually every 15 to 20 years.
Roof leaks are much quicker, easier, and cheaper to fix when they’re small. So, maintaining the health of your roof and keeping an eye on it are key to keeping your roof repair costs low over time.