Roof leaks will promote the growth and reproduction of mold because it provides its ideal environment a food source moist environment and minimal light.
Roof leak visual.
Water will reflect light so bring a flashlight along.
Sometimes it s obvious to see that you have a leaking roof.
Careful visual inspection of the roof surface above for possible leak points such as any anomaly in the roof surface membrane or coating or dust and debris accumulation that mark areas of ponding careful inspection of the roof drainage system for blockages or drain leaks into the building see flat roof drainage systems.
Make sure you keep the roof clear so water will spill over it fast.
The other person goes inside the attic with a bucket and a strong light.
Common areas of roof leaks during rain.
Identifying the true location of roof leaks in the attic.
Let s examine a few common causes of leaks so you can keep an eye on your roof.
To find the source of a roof leak.
Wet spots on ceiling or interior walls.
Slow roof leaks can be deceptive because what you see might seem minor.
Some roof leaks are tough to locate.
Weather events such as a heavy rain or a snow storm may also lead to a roof leak.
It can weaken various components and vital structures of your home.
You may notice water dripping or dark stains start to form on your ceiling.
Once you locate the source of the water mark the area.
Look in the attic with a flashlight for evidence like water stains trhen trace them up the roof and rafters to the entry point.
Leaking through windows or a fireplace.
Some of the first signs of a roof leak include the following.
Sometimes the roof water leak is more subtle showing up as a very small spot.
Skylight leaks in heavy rain are a common source for roof leaks.
Yellow or brown stains on ceilings.
Locating the exact source can be tricky because visible signs of a leak on the inside might be several feet away from either to the left right or below the actual source.
Mold come in many different colors and not just the dreaded black color but also purple and red.
A musty odor indicating the possible presence of mold what to do if your roof leaks.
If your roof leaks when it rains hard you may have an issue in any one of the following areas.
Sometimes the water shows up at a ceiling spot distant from the leak.
Water testing for roof leaks if you can t find the cause of a leak from the attic or by visual inspection on the roof surface wait for dry weather and ask a friend to help you do a water test.
To do this one person goes onto the roof with a garden hose.
Debris like leaves pine needles or twigs can trap water against the roof.
If your ceiling has a plastic vapor barrier between the drywall and the attic insulation push the insulation aside and look for flow stains on the plastic often water runs to openings in the vapor barrier such as at ceiling light fixtures.
The water can seep into the roof.
If you have an attic the easiest way to spot the leak is to up there on a rainy day.
But what you can t see might be devastating.
