Home: Preventing Water Damage
David M. Piterski from A&H Forensic Roofing in Cary shares with us the risks associated with leaking roofs – a problem that often occurs in the winter – and how to prevent damage to your home.
Cary, NC — If you notice your roof leaking this winter, you are potentially exposing your entire household to a serious problem – extensive water damage. Problems associated with leaks can often be fixed easily, but they should be taken seriously.
Little Leaks, Big Damage
In this post, I will highlight the types of risks you’re facing if you don’t take immediate action to repair leaks. Many people underestimate the damage a simple leak caused by deteriorating or dripping pipes can cause to your house.
Of course, in the beginning, little leaks look harmless, and most people will place a bucket under them and think they solved the problem. Wrong! This type of thinking could lead you into big problems and big expenses. These so-called small leaks will, eventually, develop into problems on a much larger scale. Leaks will not only damage your house from the outside, but they can cause serious damage on the inside as well. Here are some problems that can occur if you don’t take action.
Fire Damage
Isn’t it ironic? Don’t you think? It’s true, though – water can really take its toll on your house and cause fire problems. It’s mostly because of all the electrical installations throughout your home that, when water starts to leak inside of them, can easily get in contact with quick silver, which is located in your attic, ceilings and walls. In order to avoid problems, you should cut the electrical supply to the parts of your home that are struck with leak problems.
This will eliminate any chance of house fires and help avoid short circuits in the electrical grids. To be 100% sure, though, you can call an electrician to come by your house to inspect the leak areas.
Health Issues
Leaks can also cause health problems for your family members.
This is because water can easily enter the woodwork and, therefore, create a perfect environment for various types of mold. Inhaling mold is very dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. If you notice dark spots anywhere on the ceiling or walls, there is a big chance that the surface is in contact with water and that it has started to rot.
Other Problems
Like we stated earlier, mold is just one of the problems that can weaken the wooden construction of your roof. Leaks that are ignored for a long time can, on their own, completely destroy certain parts of your home like the ceiling and other structures.
Another serious, yet unlikely, problem is that your ceiling could actually collapse because of the water. Though not on a large scale, these things happen. Ceilings won’t give you much warning before they collapse, and you probably won’t see any real deformations, but, once the damage is done, it’s only a matter of time before it falls down.
Conclusion
You should always inspect your roof before big storms and high winds strike.
Knowing you have a problem can minimize the damage if you take action. Professional roofers can help identify the problem spots, and, of course, help you repair them. Always be alert and never underestimate the problems even minor leaks can cause, but, most importantly, take quick action when you see them.
Story by David M. Piterski from A&H Forensic Roofing in Cary. Photo by Michael Mandiberg.
