You have to act quickly if your roof starts leaking. If the flooring below gets soaked, it could be permanently ruined, as in the case of carpeting. Carpeting can be vacuumed with a wet vacuum if there is not an excessive amount of water. Other types of flooring can be mopped to remove the water on the floor, or towels can be used to soak it up. It is important to get a bucket underneath the drip as soon as possible. Although it is inconvenient to monitor the bucket and empty it, it will fill up quickly so someone will need to be home to empty it.
The next thing that you do depends on whether you will fix the leak yourself, or if you will call a professional roofer. Most people will call a professional because there could be more to the leak than the nonprofessional would see. If the roof is old, it may need to be replaced. It may just need repair if there is a spot where a shingle came loose or where damage occurred. The valleys of the roof need to be inspected for damage, holes, cracks, and deterioration. Sometimes chimneys or plumbing vents are the spots where the roof is leaking, and the water drips down through these areas. Skylights also leak fairly often, so this could be the source of a leak if you have one of them.
The next step to take if you discover that you roof has started to leak is to put a large plastic tarp on it. Place it in the area above where the roof leaks. If you have rocks or bricks available, these can be used to hold the tarp in place. A roofer should be called as soon as this is completed. If the dripping water has stopped, then the leak is definitely in the area that has been covered with the tarp. Every homeowner should keep a tarp on hand for times that a window breaks or a roof begins to leak.
Not everyone should attempt to climb up on a roof to place a tarp over the leak. Roof surfaces can be very slippery when they are wet. If the roof is up very high, it may be too dangerous to attempt climbing up. Also, some roofs have very steep slopes, and these may be too dangerous as well. If it is not possible to get up there, the roofer should be called right away. They know how to deal with the dangers of slopes and height, and most of them make emergency calls. The homeowner can expect to pay more for an emergency call, but it will still cost less than having to replace carpeting and furniture that is damaged from a leaky roof.
Once the roof is repaired, there are certain steps that can be taken to prevent the problem from happening again. Roofing companies often offer free roof inspections. This should be done each year. If a roof is new, they may need to repair the flashing around a plumbing vent, chimney, or skylight. These are often the source of the leak, rather than the shingles. If a roof is old, it may need to be completely replaced. Roofs are usually guaranteed for 15 years or more. Even during this time, there is a slight possibility of a leak. Having the roof inspected regularly will prevent any problems by finding defective areas that could possibly leak in the future.
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