When most people think of winter, they might like the idea of a snowy wonderland right outside their windows. However, they usually prefer to keep that chill outdoors where it belongs. Leaks in your home can contribute to uncomfortable cold spots and higher heating bills as you try to stay warm. Knowing some of the common causes of these leaks can help you prevent them and stay as toasty as possible.
Poor Insulation
Your attic could be to blame if you have a problem with roof leaks. If the insulation in this space isn’t working as intended, it could let a lot of warm air enter the space. This extra warmth can mix with the colder outside atmosphere to form condensation. The heat from the parts of the house you live in below will turn into vapor as it goes up. Left unchecked, this condensation could cause deterioration of the wooden supports in your attic and lead to leaks.
Piled Ice
In the winter, ice can build up at the edges of your roof to form a sort of dam. As the name suggests, this ridge can impede the natural flow of water that would otherwise run down and off your roof safely. If a blockage like this occurs, the water will sit there for extended periods. This water will find any tiny holes or cracks in your roof as points of egress. It’s a good idea to work with residential roofing experts to make any necessary repairs before winter hits in earnest.
Exhaust Vents
Your home has vents that are intended to take out excess moisture from the rooms that are usually damp. Your home’s bathroom is a good example of this, and the fan for this room usually goes up to the attic. If you have an unheated attic in your home, the air traveling up there could turn to frost, melt, and cause leaks that might lead to issues down the road. You may see large wet spots appear on the ceiling just as you would with a standard roof issue.
Inefficient Gutters
Gutters serve to keep excess water from building up on the roof of your home. No one enjoys getting up on a ladder to clean these things, but unencumbered gutters are essential to the life of a healthy roof. Water that sits on your roof for too long encourages leaks and leads to the structure becoming unsound. This issue can also affect the gutter themselves, causing damaging rust to form.
It’s relatively simple to deal with frost caking your windows or road salt under your car. Leaks in the roof can be a much more serious matter that might cause lasting issues in the home if left unaddressed. Check the tips above to make sure you have the common bases covered when it comes to this wintry problem. It is important to remember that just because your roof seems fine during other seasons doesn’t mean it won’t leak in colder months. Some issues contribute to leaks only during the winter season.
Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan
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