Many of us take the roof over our heads for granted. As long as we are warm and dry, we figure all must be well.However this isn’t always the case.

One problem that often gets overlooked for too long is a leaky roof. By the time you feel something wet drip on you, there may also be a lot of other problems to deal with both inside and outside your house.

If there have been a lot of storms in your area, or if your roof is over 20 years old, you might want to consider investing in roof leak repair, even if you haven’t felt an obvious roof leak. 

Here are some important things to look into if you’ve experienced a roof leak:

Ceiling or Attic Damage

If you wait until you actually feel something wet drip on you before you check for a roof leak, chances are the ceiling and deck are already compromised.

If you use the attic for storage, you’ll need to check anything you’ve been storing there as well. There may be stains on the ceiling, and you’ll need to look into what needs to be done to repair the damage.

Mold and Mildew

Mold and mildew not only looks and smells bad, but it can compromise your health without you even knowing about it.  If you have another condition, such as allergies or a compromised immune system, the effects can be serious. Mold spores can travel through your HVAC system and become part of the air you breathe.

When your contractor does roof leak repair, they will be able to identify if your roof leak has resulted in mold and help alert you to the next steps to keep yourself and your family safe.

Drywall Damage

Drywall is a convenient option for dividing spaces in your home, but it is vulnerable to moisture. If a roof leak hits your drywall it will start to buckle and sag, and in some cases come apart. This can compromise the very structure of your home.

Fire Hazards

You may not think that excess water can lead to fire, however, if moisture is hitting the electrical systems in your home, this is a very real possibility. If your leaky roof has gotten this far, you may need to find a local professional electrician to make sure your electricity is still safe.

Insulation Problems

If moisture has made it past your roof, one of the first places it soaks into is your insulation. Not only can this breed mold, but it also lessens the ability of the insulation to effectively manage temperature levels in your home.

This works your HVAC system higher, resulting in increased energy usage and higher bills. When this happens both you and the environment pay the price.

The first step in repairing a leaky roof is contacting multiple contractors to discuss their experience and get cost estimates.

Visit the home improvement website Angi (previously known as Angie’s List), to find a large directory of home contractors that can help repair roof damage as well as deal with related damage that may have happened inside.