It’s been wet in central Florida the past few weeks, however, a roof leak in your Orlando home is not always as obvious as that annoying drip-drip-drip sound. In fact, in many cases you will not see any signs of the leak until it has become fairly large, and has potentially already done a lot of damage. Many homeowners take an “install it and forget it” approach to the roof, but it’s important that you are continually inspecting and monitoring what’s happening up there to be able to find those leaks and get them fixed sooner than later.

Discovering the Source

If you noticed some of the signs of a roof leak in one area under the roof, chances are that is not actually where the leak occurred. The reason is that many leaks originate up higher on the roof, but the water leaks into the attic and follows the path of least resistance down.

In many cases water comes in through an area where there are missing, worn, or broken shingles, or where nails have come loose or the flashing around chimneys or other protrusions has rusted or gotten damaged. Once inside, it will probably travel down the rafter until it finds an optimal place to drip. That’s where you see the signs of water damage (in your ceiling or wall), but you might need to help of an experienced roof repair company in Orlando to track the real source.

Know the Signs of Roof Leaks

The most common signs of roof leaks include:

• Broken or missing shingles
• Areas where nails are missing
• Rusted or damaged flashing around chimneys or skylights
• Separation in areas where two roof planes meet
• Water streaks on the wood under your roof in Orlando
• Black streaks of mold or mildew
• Wet insulation in the attic

Inspect the Roof to Discover Leaks

The best way to find a leak is simply to inspect the roof if you suspect that there might be damage. Even when you don’t see any signs of leaks, it’s still a good idea to inspect the roof regularly to avoid any problems. The best time to check for a leak is during the day, when you can get in the attic and look for the telltale signs listed above. You can also check for areas in the roof where you can see daylight—if you can see light coming in on a sunny day, that’s also a place where water can get in on a not-so-sunny day.

If you can’t find a leak this way, you can also have someone go on the roof and run water to see if you can spot where the water is coming in, but this can be dangerous, so it might be better to hire a professional like Russ Noyes Roofing Inc Contact us today for an inspection and estimate for your roof repairs in Orlando and the surrounding areas.