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After years of rain, snow and other elements wearing away your roof, leaks appear and create unwanted stains, dripping and potential structural damage. Though it’s tempting to simply grab a bucket and hope it stops soon, ignoring the problem will only heighten the damage.

If left unrepaired, a leaky roof can cause severe water damage and even spread mold throughout your house. While it is best to call a qualified professional to repair the damage, there are a few things you can do to protect your home in the meantime.

Here are a few tips for dealing with a leaky roof:

  1. Clear Your Space: Move your furniture and electronics that are at risk of damage to a secure, dry place. If you’re unable to move heavy furniture, try covering your items with plastic sheets to avoid as much water damage as possible.
  2. Grab a Bucket and a String: Place a bucket under the leak and pin a piece of string to the damaged area of the ceiling to let the water flow down the string and fall smoothly into the bucket. This will help prevent water splashing outside the bucket.
  3. Burst The Bubbles: You may notice bubbling underneath the paint in your ceiling. This is caused by water buildup within and can be the perfect breeding ground for mold. Puncture any bubble on the ceiling you find with a small pin to release the water trapped in the ceiling.
  4. Locate The Point of Entry: When searching for the point of entry, look for common causes of leaks in your roof. This can include: deteriorated shingles, damaged pipes, clogged gutters, downspouts and ice dams. If your home contains an attic, search inside it for water marks and stains on the wood. 

Despite any questionable DIY repair tutorials, leaky roofs are best left to the professionals. Water and mold damage is too risky to try to fight yourself, and while temporary solutions can provide relief, it could result in prolonged damage to your home.

For more information about repairing your leaky roof from the experts at Recovery Solutions, please contact us here or call us directly at 269.245.0406.