Roof Leaking? What to Do Before the Roofer Arrives

If water is coming through near a light fixture, ceiling fan or outlet, turn off power to that area at the breaker panel if you can do it safely. Water and wiring are a dangerous mix, and a wet ceiling can also hide damage to wires above it.

If the ceiling is sagging or bulging, keep people and pets out from under it. A drywall ceiling holding water can come down suddenly. Some homeowners poke a small hole at the lowest point of the bulge with a screwdriver to let the water drain into a bucket in a controlled way. Only do this if you can stand safely to the side, and only if the ceiling is not already cracking apart.

Put buckets, storage bins or trash cans under every drip. A towel or rag inside the bucket keeps the splashing down. Move furniture, electronics, rugs and anything valuable out of the area or cover it with plastic sheeting.

Mop up standing water and run fans to dry the floor and walls. In our humid spring weather, wet drywall and insulation can start to grow mold within a day or two, so drying out quickly matters.

If you have attic access and it is safe to go up, look for where the water is entering. Place a bucket or a piece of plywood with a container on top of the ceiling joists under the drip. Step only on joists, never on the drywall between them.

Do not climb on a wet roof. Wet shingles and metal panels are slippery, and storms bring wind and lightning. Most of what you need to know can be seen from the ground or from a window.

From the yard, look for missing or lifted shingles, a damaged section after a hailstorm, a tree limb on the roof, or flashing that has pulled away around a chimney or wall. Inside the attic, follow the water stain uphill. Water often travels along the underside of the decking or along a rafter before it drips, so the leak on the roof may be several feet away from the spot on your ceiling.

Common leak spots we see on South Texas homes include pipe boots that have cracked from years of sun, chimney flashing, roof valleys, turbine and exhaust vents, and areas where hail broke the shingle surface.

A tarp over the damaged area can buy time until a proper repair, but it should be put up by someone with the right ladder, footing and experience, and only once the storm has passed. A tarp that blows off in the next gust does nothing, and a fall from a roof is far more expensive than any leak.

If you cannot safely tarp it yourself, focus on the inside steps above and call a roofer who handles emergency work. Many leaks can be stopped the same day once someone experienced is on the roof.

Take photos and video of the ceiling stain, the dripping water, wet floors, damaged belongings and anything you can see on the roof from the ground. Note the date and time the leak started and what the weather was doing.

If the leak came from a hail or wind event, this documentation can matter if you decide to file a homeowners insurance claim. Insurance policies and claim rules vary, so check your own policy or talk with your agent about what is covered. Keep receipts for tarps, fans or any emergency work.

A good roofer will want to see both the inside damage and the roof itself. They should explain where the water is getting in, whether it is a repair or a sign of a bigger problem, and what the fix will cost before starting. Most repairs are things like replacing a pipe boot, resealing or replacing flashing, or swapping out damaged shingles or panels.

Alanis Roofing handles emergency roof repair 24/7 for homes and businesses in Devine, San Antonio, Lytle, Natalia, Castroville and across South Texas. Call or text Andres at (210) 318-9811, in English or Spanish, and we will get someone out to look at it and give you a free estimate.