How to Stop a Roof Leak in the Rain: A Step-by-step Guide
Heavy rains and winds can quickly cause some nasty leaks in any roof, new or old. As a homeowner, you should know how to handle basic roof leaks and limit the amount of damage that rain and leaks might cause.
If you have already noticed a leak in your home during a storm, do not panic! There are many things that you can do to make sure that the damage stays to a minimum. You do not have to be a leak expert to mitigate these issues; we have created an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide just for you.
Read on to learn how to stop a leak during a rainstorm!
Step 1: Move Furniture and Objects Away from the Water Source
When you see water leaking through the ceiling, there is a good chance that the leak will continue to get worse until you address it.
To make sure that you salvage your belongings first, quickly remove any furniture or objects away from the affected area. As long as the objects are moved out of the general area, you should be good and will likely avoid any of their ruin.
Another thing to make sure of is that electronics are far from the source of water! This should be a first priority, but make sure to never touch a chord or wire that has been submerged in water for any length of time.
If this is the case, you should go to the breaker and cut off the power to that room. This way, you will avoid electrical sparks and other dangerous accidents.
Step 2: Place Something to Catch the Water Temporarily
Once the area has been cleared out, try and find a bucket or bin that can be used to catch the water for the time being. Not only will this save you from cleaning up a big mess later on, but it will also protect your flooring from any water damage.
Placing something to catch the water will keep the drops from splattering on any surrounding objects, outlets, or walls and will help to minimize the damage that would have otherwise been caused.
Step 3: Identity Where the Leak is Coming From
Now that you have taken the time to remove everything from the general area, it is time to identify where the water is coming from and where the leak is most evident.
To do this, try and start in the place where you first noticed the water dripping. In most cases, there is going to be some clear evidence that indicates where the water has traveled. You’ll have a better idea of where the leak is coming from.
Once you have gathered a better understanding of where the leak is coming from, you can take your investigation to the next step.
Step 4: Locate the Source of the Leak
Go in the Attic
Many leaks can be traced back to the attic. If you can, go ahead and get in the attic. However, you have to protect yourself. Don’t go up if you have a rickety ladder or if the flooring above isn’t safe. It’s better to stop what you’re doing and call a leak detection service to take a look for you.
Once inside the attic, you are going to gather a whole new perspective about the leak and just how much water has made its way inside. By approaching the leak from the attic, you might slow the spread of the water from causing any more damage to your interior ceiling.
To do this, you can place another bucket or bin underneath the leak to prevent the water from spreading any further. But make sure that you have the bucket placed on something sturdy – not the drywall!
If you leave the bucket on the weaker portions of the ceiling, the weight will eventually give way and can literally break through the ceiling altogether.
Another option is to try and patch the leak from the inside. You can find certain products that are designed for this type of repair and quickly place the patches in the locations that seem to be leaking the most.
These repairs, however, are temporary and will not hold for a long period of time. The idea is to slow the leak enough until the rain passes so that you can stay indoors and remain safe until it dries up outside a bit.
Head Up To The Roof
If you are unable to get into the attic or have trouble accessing the leak from inside, you may need to head out to the roof. However, this is an extremely unsafe step. You’re not only venturing onto unstable terrain, but it will also be extremely slippery during a storm.
If you think the leak is coming from the roof, we recommend calling our roofing pros at All Dry USA to do the job for you. We offer 24/7 service, so you can get one of our team members to check it out during the storm if the leak is out of control.
However, if you insist on venturing onto the roof, make sure you have taken all safety precautions necessary:
- Wait for the rain to slow or calm down even slightly before you try to attempt this repair.
- With a sturdy ladder, head to the section of the roof that is dealing with the leak. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes with rubber soles to prevent yourself from slipping on the wet surfaces.
- Similar to the patches that can be used in the attic, there are also store-bought patches that can temporarily cover the area on the exterior of the roof to stop the flow of water.
- If you do not have these patches on hand, do not fret. A simple and temporary way to stop the water is to quickly throw a tarp over the leak and secure it so that it does not blow away.
Again, many of these are temporary fixes. You will most likely need professional services to stop the leak for good.
We cannot stress this enough – please make sure that you can safely get on the roof before trying to do so alone. Waiting for the storm to pass will not make a huge difference, so try to wait out the storm or let it slow down even in the slightest so that you can take all precautions necessary.
Read more: How long can you leave a tarp on a roof
Let The Pros Handle It
It’s important to be prepared to handle any leaks as they may arise, especially during the rainy season. However, sometimes it’s best to just leave leak repair to the professionals. Sometimes, no matter how hard you may try to fix the leak, it will continue to cause problems.
To make sure that your roof is in the best possible condition and that all of your leaks are addressed and repaired correctly, give us a call at All Dry USA. Our experts have experience working with all types of roofing leaks. We are more than happy to examine your roof and fix your leak before it causes more damage.
Call us today for an inspection or repair and we will be there to get your roof back to normal in no time at all!
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