If you notice water stains forming on the ceiling during a heavy storm, the storm most likely damaged your roof and is causing it to leak. High winds can tear off shingles, creating an opening in your roof. They can also cause tree limbs overhanging your roof to break off and fall on your roof, damaging it. Continue reading to learn what you should do in order to limit the damage to your home.
Look for All of the Leaks
It's important to find all of the leaking areas so that you can address them. Go through your entire home and look for water stains on your ceilings to spot where water is leaking down from your attic.
Move Electronics Away From the Water
Once you've found all the areas where water is leaking into your home, move all of your electronics like computers and appliances away from the leak. Unplug them afterward. For appliances like an electric furnace that are wired directly to your home's electricity instead of plugged in, you'll need to turn off the power at your home's electrical panel. Turning off the power to electronics will prevent you from being shocked if they come into contact with water and you touch them.
Drain Sagging Drywall on the Ceiling
The water stains on your ceilings will collect water, causing a sagging, blistered area to form. You'll need to drain the water to stop your ceilings from collapsing. You can pop the sagging drywall by poking it with a screwdriver or fork. Place a bucket or garbage can underneath the leak to collect all of the water that rushes out. Popping the sagging drywall and collecting the water will ensure that the water from your roof leak will end up in the bucket instead of spreading farther through your home.
Call an Emergency Roof Repair Service
Call a 24-hour emergency roof repair service in your area and have them inspect your roof. They'll be able to determine how much damage your roof suffered during the storm, and they'll be able to make a temporary repair by attaching boards to your roof and placing a waterproof tarp over them. Putting a tarp on your roof will keep water out if another storm rolls through your area, helping your home stay dry until your roof can be fully repaired.
Overall, the most important things to do when your roof starts leaking during a storm are to keep electronics away from the leaking water and to drain your ceiling. Once that's done, have your roof inspected and temporarily boarded by a 24-hour emergency roof repair service to keep your home dry if it rains again.
Contact a local roofing service, such as R & T Roofing and Remodeling, to learn more.
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