Water in the Attic or From the Roof: What You Are Seeing
Water from above usually starts in the attic or at the roof long before anyone sees it. Pick the symptom that matches yours, from ice dam leaks to skylight drips and storm damage, learn what to do first and call one number to reach a local restoration crew in Connecticut.
Water in the attic or from the roof means moisture is getting past the roof covering or forming inside the attic itself. It soaks insulation, wets the roof boards and framing, and often shows up later as a stain on a top-floor ceiling or wall. Because insulation hides the damage and holds water, a small leak can wet a large area before anyone notices, which is why drying it quickly matters.
Connecticut roofs work hard. Snow falls across the state, about 50 in a year at Bradley and about 74.9 in at Norfolk in the northwest hills, and long freezing stretches set up ice dams on older, often under-insulated homes. Ice dam water usually shows up as stains at the outer edges of top-floor rooms, where the ceiling meets the exterior wall. The statewide median home was built in 1967, older than the national median of 1981, and older homes usually mean older roofs and flashing. Bath and kitchen fans vented into attics add frost that melts on the first warm day.
Storms add to it. Nor'easters bring heavy snow and wind-driven rain that gets in at flashing and vents, and Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 knocked out power to over half the state. Rain and snow fall in every month, so a weak spot gets tested year round. Shoreline and inland buildings see it alike, from Cape-style houses to condo complexes and retail plazas with flat roofs. The line connects homeowners and property managers with local crews for drying and interior repair, while roof work itself goes to a roofer.
What are you seeing?
- Ice Dam Leaking Into the HouseWater staining the top-floor ceiling near the eaves while thick ice and icicles hang off the roof edge.
- Water Dripping in the AtticWater dripping from the roof boards or rafters in the attic, or wet spots showing up on top of the insulation.
- Leak Around a Skylight or ChimneyWater dripping down a skylight shaft or staining the ceiling beside the chimney, often in heavy rain or a thaw.
- Roof Leak After a StormWater coming through the ceiling during or right after a heavy rain, nor'easter or high wind.
Quick Checks Before You Call
- Look at the roof edge from the ground. A thick ridge of ice and long icicles along the gutters during a cold stretch point to an ice dam. Look from the ground only.
- Check when it drips. Drips on sunny or mild winter days without rain usually mean melting frost or ice. Drips only during heavy rain point to a roof or flashing leak.
- Look from the attic hatch. Dark roof boards, frosty nails or matted insulation show where water is collecting. Stay on the joists, or do not go in at all.
- Find where the stain sits. A stain at the outer edge of a top-floor room suggests the eaves. One around a skylight or chimney suggests the flashing at that opening.
- Check nearby fixtures. If water is near a light, fan or outlet, turn that circuit off at a dry breaker panel and call right away.
Water in the Attic or From the Roof: FAQs
Is water from the roof always a roof leak?
No. Melting attic frost, bath fans vented into the attic and plumbing in the attic can all drip like a roof leak. A crew reads the pattern of the wet areas to tell them apart.
Does the restoration crew fix roofs?
The crews handle drying, removing wet insulation and drywall and repairing the inside. Roof, flashing, ventilation and insulation upgrades are work for a roofer or insulation contractor.
Should I go on the roof to look?
No, especially not when it is wet, snowy or icy. Look from the ground and from the attic hatch, and leave the roof itself to people with the right gear.
Can commercial buildings call about roof leaks?
Yes. Owners and managers of offices, retail plazas, condo buildings and other properties with roof or ice dam leaks can call the same number to be connected with a local crew for drying.
Water in Your Attic and Roof? Call Now.
Calls answered 24/7. A local crew can find the source and start drying.