My Roof Is Leaking During a Storm. What Should I Do in the First Hour?
If your roof is leaking during a storm, stay off the roof, catch the water, move your belongings out of the way, take photos, and call a roofer. Those five steps protect your home and your family while you wait for the repair.
Here is the full list, in order.
1. Stay off the roof
It is tempting to climb up and try to fix it. Do not. A wet desert roof is steep and slick with grit, and storms add wind and lightning. The risk of a fall is far greater than anything you can fix from up there.
Look from the ground if you want to see damage after the storm has passed.
2. Catch the water
Put a bucket or a large pot under the drip. A towel in the bottom stops splashing. If the drip is coming from a spot you cannot reach, a tarp or plastic sheet on the floor will protect it.
If water is coming from a light fixture or a ceiling fan, stay away from it and turn the light off. If you are unsure, switch off the breaker for that room. Water and electricity do not mix.
3. Move belongings
Move furniture, rugs, electronics and anything else that water can ruin out from under the leak. Lift items off the floor in the room below the leak.
If a ceiling is sagging or bulging with water, keep people and pets out of that room and away from underneath it.
4. Take photos and notes
Photograph the ceiling stain, the wet floor and any dripping. Write down the time, and what the weather is doing, including whether the wind is strong and which way it is blowing.
These notes help a roofer work out where the water entered. See how we find a roof leak for how we use them.
5. Call or text a roofer
Call or text photos to (725) 502-3114. Active leaks are a priority, and we can often tarp and protect a damaged area fast, then schedule the permanent repair.
Tell us where the water is showing up, how fast it is coming in, and what the weather is doing. We will triage from there.
What a tarp does and does not do
A tarp is a temporary cover. It keeps more water out while you wait for dry weather and the real repair. It is not the repair.
The permanent fix still needs the true entry point found and repaired. Our roof leak detection page explains that process. For what we repair afterward, see residential roof repair.
After the storm
When the rain stops, look at the roof from the ground. Look for slipped or missing tiles, displaced shingles and debris. Look in the yard for pieces of tile or shingle. Check the ceilings in other rooms for new stains.
Leave wet insulation or drywall for the roofer to see before you throw anything away if you can, and keep the photos. Trapped moisture can cause mold and damage the framing, so do not ignore a wet area once the drip stops.
If the power is on
Water and electricity are a bad mix. If the leak is near outlets, switches or the main panel, do not touch them. Keep children and pets away from wet areas near wiring.
Next steps
Once the cause is found, the repair may be small, such as a pipe boot, a flashing edge or a few tiles. It may be larger, such as an underlayment problem. We explain what we find and what the options are.
For more on what storms do to roofs, read after the storm: wind and monsoon roof damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a tarp on the roof myself?
We do not recommend it. A wet roof is dangerous. Call us and we can often tarp the area for you.
Should I turn off the power?
If water is coming through a light fixture or ceiling fan, stay away from it. When in doubt, switch off the breaker for that room.
Do I need to call during the storm?
Yes if water is coming in. Active leaks are a priority. You can also text photos.
Can the permanent repair be done in the rain?
Permanent repairs are usually scheduled for dry weather. The tarp protects the roof until then.
Who do I call?
Call or text photos to (725) 502-3114.