With the onset of winter, you start witnessing those ugly water stains that run down your entire ceiling and even down the walls. These are telltale signs of a leaky roof and may be in need of immediate attention. There are various reasons behind winter roof leaks which can snowball into serious problems if not checked early.
Causes of winter roof leaks
Clogged gutters
Gutters getting blocked with ice, dirt, leaves, and debris is a common phenomenon during the winter season. This makes them ineffective when it comes to draining out water, snow, and ice from the roof which in turn makes the water seep under the shingles and cause your roof to leak in winter.
Ice dams
This happens once the snow starts to melt and slide down the slope of your roof. Once they are at the eaves, they begin to cool and refreeze forming massive ice ridges. These, in turn, start blocking off ice and water from sliding off the roof eventually causing them to go underneath the roof shingles and entering home through the roof.
Damaged shingles
If you have damaged, cracked, or missing shingles, this can lead to roof leaks. Shingles can wear out or get damaged for a variety of reasons such as hail, storms, or high winds. Hence, it is necessary to inspect your shingles from time to time especially before winter sets in.
How do I detect a roof leak?
- Start by looking for stains on walls and roofs and trace them upwards. Then look for roof penetrations as these are the primary causes of roof leaks.
- Look for signs of leakage such as water marks, molds, or black marks from your attic
What should you do if you find your roof leaking in winter?
Get professional help
If you find that your roof is leaking in winter, the best thing to do is call a professional to inspect the damage as well as tell you about the best way forward. In case their recommendations include major repairs, it is best to wait until spring when it is safer for the roofer to do the job.
Look for a stopgap solution
If you find your roof leaking in the winter, it is best to look for a temporary solution and short term repairs until the weather improves. Most roof leak problems have deep seated causes such as the requirement of added insulation or ventilation and thus require fixing at the roots. This can be done only when the weather improves and you will have to wait until spring. However, you can make temporary fixes such as removing existing ice dams and regulating the temperature in your attic.
Identify the problem areas early on
The best way to resolve your leaky roof issues in winter is to identify them quickly before they turn into bigger problems. Look for water stains both on the inside and outside walls. See if water is dripping from the ceiling or ventilation fans and check if there is condensation on skylights, among others.
If you find any of the above signs that indicate that you may have a roof leak, contact our team today. We are just a phone call away!
