You’re settling down for a relaxing evening sprawled on the couch with Netflix blaring when you hear the heart-stopping sound of a slow drip, drip, drip. If the root of this sound is truly a leaky roof, and just not someone leaving the bathroom sink running, then you need to put that true-crime marathon on pause.

A leaky roof is no joke. Sustained water damage can cause mold and mildew growth, as well as damaged floors and ceiling tiles. In some cases, leakage could even be a fire hazard if the water messes with electrical wiring. For the meticulous designer, alarming brown stains may also appear on the ceiling and floorboards. 

It may be easier to slump back down and continue with your binge-watching, but even the smallest leakage needs immediate attention. Leaks don’t fix themselves, and if you can hear or see water, then the damage is probably worse than you realize. Take the time now to treat your leaking roof to the best of your ability until professional help arrives to save the day. Once the crisis is averted, your TV marathon can resume in peace. 

1. Find the Source

First things first, you should determine where the leak is coming from and where the water is going. Sometimes you can hear that persistent dripping as if it’s plopping onto your own head, but you still can’t find any water. The leak could be in the walls or in tight spaces like attics.

If you can, strap on a headlamp or switch the brightness of your flashlight up a notch and investigate. Once you find the source, it is that much easier to move forward with the next steps.

2. Clear Away Items

Is your roof leak affecting furniture, floors, ceiling tiles and other belongings? That water is going somewhere, and you want to divert it away from critical areas. Water damage can irrevocably damage some items like computers and breed mildew growth in others like vinyl records and bedding. The last thing you want is musty-smelling sheets and furniture.

Now that you found the source of the leak and affected areas, remove all belongings from the room and place them in a safe area away from pooling water. 

3. Collect Dripping Water

Do you have a stash of buckets, garbage cans, jugs and jars hidden in your back closet? This is the perfect time to whip them out and collect the water leaking down from the roof. Make sure to grab more containers than you need so that if one bucket fills, another can take its place. Once they’re full, you can use this water to treat plants or simply discard them. 

Snag a few old towels too so you can pat dry affected areas. Water damage can warp and stain floors and other surfaces, so this step is critical. 

Maybe you see the weather forecast calling for an intense rainstorm. To prevent even more water from raining down inside, you may be able to cover your leak with a tarp. Tie it down against shingles tightly so that water doesn’t slide underneath.

However, if the elements are dangerous and the path treacherous, don’t place your life on the line. Professional roofers have the tools and experience to complete this tarp coverage safely. 

4. Relieve Pressure from Buildups

If you didn’t get to the leakage in time, the water may have collected in the ceiling. This creates a sagging bulge of water than could explode and create a huge mess. Though it may be a disturbing and even funny sight, you should take action immediately. 

First, grab one of your trusty buckets and place it directly beneath the water bulge. With a screwdriver or sharp tool, gently poke a hole in the material, letting the water slowly drain out into your bucket. 

Pat dry affected areas dry with a towel and discard your water collection. Crisis averted!

5. Call Professional Roofers

At this point, you’ve done pretty much all you can do. Actually mending a leaky roof is best left to the professionals as they have the safety equipment to get to the roof and more expert knowledge on how to solve your unique issue. 

Choosing the right roofing contractor is an important undertaking as well. Because it is difficult to see progress yourself (after all, who has been hanging out on their roof lately?) some companies provide picture updates and track job status on online portals for customers to monitor.

If you’re worried about future leaks, you can work with your chosen company to provide scheduled inspections and reports as well. Calling professionals in now saves headaches later. 

6. Take Insurance Photos

While you wait for the professionals, it’s time to whip out your inner photographer. Take pictures of any and all damage so that you can submit a claim to your insurance company. Showcasing the severity of damage may help you get compensation for many items. In short, document everything: 

• The leak or gap in the roof

• Sagging buildups of water

• Stains on ceilings, floors and other surfaces

• Buckets and containers filled with collected water

• Objects compromised by leakage like electronics, furniture and other belongings

• The roof from an outside view

When taking these photos, make sure you are getting multiple angles and details. Capture shots of a stain from close up so the provider can see the shade of damage, as well as a faraway shot so they can witness the scope of the water’s reach. You should also shoot in the clear light of day with the sun behind you. Back up all photos on the cloud or on a USB drive. 

Many insurance providers will cover roof damage caused by inclement weather and disaster, but some are not as willing to help if the leak could have been solved with routine roof maintenance. In the future, add these tasks to your yearly renovation and repair roundup to avoid this problem again:

• Clearing gutters and downspouts, especially in autumn and winter

• Monitoring moss growth

• Ensuring proper airflow in the attic and chimneys

• Dehumidifying attics and crawlspaces to combat mildew and ice dams

Living Through the Leak

You’re almost at the end of your ordeal, so take a moment to pat yourself on the back. A leaky roof is stressful, and you tackled these steps like a champ! Once the deeds are done and roofers are fixing a hole where the rain gets in, you can settle back down for that well-deserved binge-watching marathon.