CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE – 202-276-5004 FAMILY.ROOFING@YAHOO.COM
At Family Roofing, we take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality and customer service. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. Our reputation is based on service, safety and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.
Winter Roof Leaks
If you believe your roof is leaking, but there’s no snow on the roof and there’s no rain outside, it’s probably not a roof leak. When it comes to roof leaks, a diagnosis is vital before attempting to fix anything on the roof. The first question we ask customers complaining of a leaky roof is where do you see the water stains?
Check for Ice Dams
If the stains are near the outside, by an exterior wall, they are likely from an ice dam. Walk around your house and take a look at the roof. Do you see ice in the gutters? Any icicles? Lack of snow further up on the roof, but more at the bottom? These symptoms are likely due to an ice dam. What happens is, since the snow cannot shed off properly, it leaks through your shingles and into the walls, which causes those stains near the outside of the ceiling.
Multiple Small Stains Throughout the Ceiling
Do you see numerous small stains, almost like splatters, across your ceiling? This is very likely not a leaky roof. That’s simply condensation from cooking, cleaning. Condensation gets into the attic and cannot exhaust out of the attic. So, in the winter months, that moisture turns to frost, then when it warms up, it melts and drips back down to the roof floor, causing those multiple drips and stains on your ceiling.
Condensation and moisture issues can be caused by a wide variety of things ranging from not using a bathroom fan when you shower, to having improper ventilation in your roof. When diagnosing these issues, make sure to put an emphasis on where you are finding these small stains. If it is above the stove, it is probably caused by the steam produced when cooking and could easily be remedied by installing a blower. If there are stains in the bathroom, there’s a solid probability the issue is from someone not turning on the fan when taking a steamy shower. The good news is, some of these can be solved quickly, like making sure you’re using that fan when you take a steamy shower in the winter. But, if moisture is getting up in the attic and there isn’t enough ventilation, there could be a bigger issue at hand that would need to be handled by a professional.
Your Bathroom Fan is Dripping or Leaking
If you notice your bathroom fan is leaking, you may think you have a roof leak near your fan. This is not the case. What is actually happening is moisture gets up into the fan or vent hose, freezes in the winter, and as it melts in the spring, it drips back down through your bathroom fan. This is giving the illusion of a roof leak but is just moisture and condensation making its way back down.
You See Condensation on Your Skylight
Another common issue we get calls about is condensation on skylights. If you have skylights and they are dripping water, it’s likely because there is excess moisture in the home, not a leak in the skylight or roof. Speaking of moisture, do you have a humidifier built into your furnace? If you do, you need to make sure it is always set relative to the temperature outside. If you have it set to 40-50% on a cold day, that is going to create a lot of moisture build-up inside your home—that is way too humid. If you notice condensation on your windows or skylights, then you have excess moisture in your home, and you should turn down that humidifier.
Other Possible Causes of Winter Roof Leaks
Missing Shingles — Missing shingles from your roof is one of the primary reasons that it will leak any time of year. However, the high-speed winter winds do have the potential to knock shingles loose from your roof. Unless you see loose shingles in your yard, it’s pretty hard to know they’re missing without a professional inspection.
Trapped Snow or Ice – This is the main way that snow and ice can cause a winter roof leak. If snow or ice becomes stuck on your roof and is unable to drain, it will begin to leak through your roof as it melts. If your roof ONLY leaks directly after a snow storm, this may be the reason why.
Shingles Nearing End of Life – The shingles are your roof’s first and best line of defense against the elements. However, as they age, they begin to lose the grit and granules that make them resistant to water. Simply put: if your shingles aren’t the best quality or are extremely old, they will begin to leak.
Exposed Nail Heads — Correct installation is the key to a long lasting, leak-free roof. However, if your roof was badly installed, it may contribute to winter roof leaks – or leaks any other time of the year. On a properly installed shingle roof, the nail heads will be completely secure. However, if corners were cut and the nail heads are left exposed, it can lead to leaks.
Poor Flashing – Flashing does an important job in sealing your roof to water – and once again, if it wasn’t done right, it can lead to serious problems. Flashing is the part of a roof that diverts water away from areas where it is vulnerable to leaks, such as chimneys, skylights and where the roof meets the siding. This can be a factor in winter as poor flashing can go hand in hand with leaks from melting snow and ice.
Finding the Cause of the ‘Leak’
These are the most common things we hear from people that think they have a leaky roof. But it usually turns out to just be consequences of ice dams and condensation in the attic, bathroom fan, or your home.
In more cases than not, we end up not diagnosing an actual roof leak, but another issue related to condensation or recurring ice dams. This is good news if you were worried about needing a roof repair or replacement. But the downside is, there is another issue at hand that will most likely need a repair of some type. Whether it is insulation, roof vents, or something else, it’s best to take care of the issue before it becomes a bigger problem. Inspecting a roof for the signs of a potential leak is one of the most important services a roofing contractor can provide for you. An expert set of eyes can make all of the difference between catching a problem early and fixing it with a simple repair — or missing it completely and needing a full roof replacement instead!
CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE – 202-276-5004 FAMILY.ROOFING@YAHOO.COM
If the stains are near the outside, by an exterior wall, they are likely from an ice dam. Walk around your house and take a look at the roof. Do you see ice in the gutters? Any icicles? Lack of snow further up on the roof, but more at the bottom? These symptoms are likely due to an ice dam. What happens is, since the snow cannot shed off properly, it leaks through your shingles and into the walls, which causes those stains near the outside of the ceiling.