How to Find the Source of a Roof Leak
- 1). Place an extension ladder on a secure area of your house to gain access to your roof. If you are not comfortable walking on your roof, you will need someone to help you. Walk the entire roof looking for raised, broken or missing shingles. Any of these conditions can be the source of your roof leak. Another source to look for on your shingles is missing nails. Missing nails leave open holes that will allow water to run in. Use a hammer, roofing nails and new shingles to replace any bad or missing shingles you find.
- 2). Check all areas of your roof that have flashing. You'll find flashing on the edge of your sloped roof that is up against a horizontal wall. Another site for flashing is around your chimney. Flashing is bent into an L shape and nailed into place. It may be one long solid piece or several 4-inch sections. The top edge of chimney flashing is tucked into a mortar joint on the side of your chimney, and the bottom section is nailed to your roof. Look for loose or missing flashing, missing nails and cracked mortar joints. Flashing is often a source for roof leaks.
- 3). Check all your roof vent pipes and skylights for leaks. Vent pipes often have rubber boots that slide over the pipe and a metal plate that nails to your roof. Rubber boots will dry rot, and nails can pop out of the metal plate. Replace all vent pipe boots that are rotted, and replace missing nails. Your skylight most likely is caulked around with a silicone- or tar-based roofing sealant. Check to make sure that the sealant is not dried out, missing or separated. Use a caulking gun and a roofing sealant to repair the seal around your skylight.
- 4). Saturate your roof by using your garden hose. Ask a helper to use a flashlight, and go into your attic to look for the source of your leak. It is not always obvious where your leak is located. Using a hose can help you to trace where the water is coming in. Your leak may have only been temporary. Heavy snow and ice on your roof can push shingles up or inhibit the natural flow of water, which will cause a temporary leak.
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