3 Problems That You Didn’t Know Were Caused by Your Leaky Roof

No homeowner wants to come home to the shock of seeing water dripping from the ceiling. It’s a sure sign of a roof leak. More importantly, it’s also an indicator of unknown amounts of water damage to your home, costly repairs or replacement of your roof and considerable disruption to your life while all the work is done.

But, there may be one ‘advantage’ to actually seeing water from a leaky roof – at least you know you have a leak and can start taking steps to repair it.

Most roof leaks are not that easy to spot and they can go on undetected for many years. But they can be just as damaging, or more so, as the roof leak that spouts water into your home.

Left untreated, slow roof leaks can cause serious structural damage as it weakens wooden supports over time. Mold and mildew can build up in unhealthy quantities and the damage can reach all parts of your home.

A slow roof leak can also be the culprit behind many problems that you’ve encountered in your home, the casue of which you weren’t sure about, or you blamed them on something else.

Here are just a few issues you might experience, but that you didn’t know were caused by a leak in your roof.

1. Paint Blistering

If you’ve ever noticed paint blistering, especially after it’s been first applied, it could be caused by excess moisture in the wall due to a roof leak.

2. Musty Smell

No, all basements don’t smell that way. Yes, a small leak in your roof can casue mold and mildew issues all the way down in your basement and that’s where the musty odour comes from.

3. Higher Energy Bills

Water reduces the insulating capacity of fiberglass and cellulose insulation. That means that an undetected leak in your roof can let more of the costly heated and cooled air in your home escape. Not only does that mean you’ll spend more to heat and air condition your home, but your HVAC will work more and need to be replaced sooner.

To avoid suffering any damage from a roof leak, think about getting the roof of your home inspected at least two times a year by a professional who is trained in spotting the signs of roofing trouble before it starts.