Why Is My Roof Leaking? What to Do Right Now and How It Gets Fixed

What to do right now

1. Move furniture, electronics and valuables away from the leak.
2. Catch the water with a bucket and towels.
3. If water is collecting in a bulge on the ceiling, call a professional. Do not push on it yourself.
4. If water is near light fixtures or outlets, turn off power to that area at the breaker if you can do so safely.
5. Take photos of the leak and any damage.
6. Call a roofer. Do not climb onto a wet or windy roof.

The most common causes

• Failed flashing around chimneys, vents, skylights and walls
• Missing or damaged shingles after wind or hail
• Cracked pipe boots around plumbing vents
• Ice dams pushing water under shingles in winter
• Clogged gutters backing water up under the roof edge
• Worn-out shingles at the end of their life

How a roofer finds the leak

Water often travels along the roof deck or rafters before it drips, so the stain on your ceiling may not be directly under the problem. A roofer checks the attic and the roof above and around the stain, paying close attention to flashing and anything that pokes through the roof.

How it gets fixed

Depending on the cause, the fix might be new flashing, replacing damaged shingles, a new pipe boot or, if the roof is worn out, a replacement. Any wet or soft decking should be replaced, not covered over.