The sound of rain against your roof can be so calming, especially late at night. A rainstorm brings peaceful white noise, waters your plants, and sometimes you receive a free car wash. But if you have a hole in your roof, heavy rain is much less kind to you.
Roof leaks from heavy rain often cause water damage to your home, whether visible or not. A roof leak from rain can promote mold growth and weaken your home’s structural integrity over time—when unaddressed, your home’s value may plummet and your indoor air quality may take an unhealthy turn.
There are several reasons why your roof may leak during rain. In this article, we will discuss some of the most common issues, along with some temporary fixes. For permanent fixes for roof leaks and water damage, give Dry Force a call. We are Texas’s trusted water damage restoration experts, having solved roof issues for over 20 years. Our team is available 24/7/365 and ready to return your life to normal.
Love the rain again by calling Dry Force at (866) 460-5110. You can also book an appointment with our roof leak repair experts online.
Table of Contents
Identifying 8 Causes of Roof Leaks in Heavy Rain
It’s time to take a look around the house. Which places look worn out? Which places haven’t been maintained in years? Do you notice any cracks or old wet spots?
Finding the cause of your roof leak may require some detective work, but once you find the source, you can make a temporary fix before calling a water damage restoration company like Dry Force. Early detection will reduce the extent of damage to your home, reducing the amount of money you spend on repairs.
Chimney Leaks
When a chimney leaks, it’s often due to issues with its flashing. Flashing is a metal sheet placed where your chimney meets your roof. If the flashing is damaged or loose, water can seep into your home. Sometimes, flashing is incorrectly installed, so it may be susceptible to leaks from the get-go.
Tips & Insights: Why is My Chimney Leaking Water? 3 Causes & Ways to Fix
Skylight Leaks
Just like chimneys, skylights have flashing installed around them. When a skylight is poorly insulated, condensation can build up and start dripping onto your floor. Older skylights often have issues with their sealant and may need the sealant removed and replaced.
Plumbing Leaks
If your ventilation ducts are not properly insulated, condensation may build up and create moist environments inside walls and attics. This can be difficult to observe and is best handled by a water damage restoration professional. Leaks from the ventilation ducts on your roof can also be the culprit for water damage, but take care when checking on these.
Pipe Boot Failure
A faulty pipe boot is the most common cause of roof leaks. Pipe boots surround the bases of roof pipes, and when they are defective, they can let water into your home. Most pipe boots are made of rubber and can crack when exposed to sunlight for extended periods. The sun’s high UV deteriorates rubber over time, so pipe boot failure can happen to any home, especially in Texas.
Condensation
Condensation can emerge in several parts of your home, but you should pay particular attention to attics. A poorly ventilated attic can become filled with moist air, especially during warm winter days with heavy rainfall. When condensation collects in your attic, water begins to drip through your ceiling.
Degraded Shingles
Shingles are designed to protect your home from heavy rain and storm damage, but they only last for so long. When shingles reach the end of their lifespan, heavy rain can seep through them. After too many storms and hot days, long-term wear and drying out will throw shingles into disrepair. This is why roof inspections and maintenance are so important, especially in states like Texas where heat is unforgiving and storms are frequent.
Tips & Insights: 7 Signs of Damage to Your Asphalt Shingles & Roof
Clogged Gutters
Gutters are supposed to direct water away from your home, not onto it. When leaves and other debris fill your gutters, water begins pooling on your roof, causing leaks and water damage. Dry Force recommends cleaning your gutters twice per year, especially during spring and fall. This ensures that leaves don’t cause blockages, and in turn, hundreds or thousands of dollars in damages.
Metal Corrosion
If you have a metal roof, cracks and corrosion can be a gateway to roof leaks in heavy rain. Regular roofs also have metal parts on them—these parts are equally susceptible to degradation. When parts like fasteners take on corrosion, there may be gaps for water to enter your home.
Why Does My Roof Leak Only When It Rains Hard?
Roof leaks in heavy rain are common because the sheer force of a brutal rainstorm can send water to places it usually cannot go. If you have small issues with your roof, such as shingle cracks or loose nails, the high volume of water on your roof can latch onto these small issues and cause leaks.
If the storm is severe enough, it can damage or displace your shingles and other roof parts, lowering your home’s defenses against exterior water damage. Inspecting your roof and its gutters is essential after a severe storm, as your home may have taken on some unexpected injury.
If you notice storm damage or roof leaks, call Dry Force as soon as possible. We provide 24/7 emergency services throughout the Dallas, Houston, and Austin areas, ensuring that Texas homeowners recover from water damage year-round. But, before our experts arrive at your home, here are some temporary fixes you can use to prevent extensive damage.
Temporary Fixes You Can Make To Repair a Leaking Roof From Heavy Rain
After heavy rains and storms, we recommend that you do not try to fix roof repairs outside. Hopping onto your roof after heavy rain is dangerous and should be left to professionals. But there are some great ways to temporarily fix your roof leaks from the inside. These fixes are rather simple and should block extensive damage—once water damage specialists arrive, they can impose long-lasting repairs and renovations.
Here are a few options:
- Use buckets or bins to catch any dripping water.
- Use putty, tape, or caulk to temporarily seal the leaking area. If the area is dripping too much, this may not work and will instead route water elsewhere.
- Use towels to keep water from sinking into wood.
Read More: 8 Signs Of a Roof Leak & Ways to Prevent Water Damage
Dry Force Provides Comprehensive Roof Leak Repairs in Texas
While heavy rain can be a relaxing sound, it can also be a costly pain. If your flat roof leaks in heavy rain, you need solutions, and you need them quickly. Dry Force provides 24/7 emergency service for situations like these, where the root causes of leaks are numerous.
Roof leaks and ceiling leaks from rain can be temporarily fixed, but for your home’s long-term health and your long-term peace of mind, it’s best to call the water mitigation and water damage restoration experts at Dry Force. We are one of Texas’s largest, most trusted names in water extraction, mold removal, and water damage restoration, and we have some of the state’s most respected employees.
Dry Force employs 1 of only 12 Triple Master Water Technicians in Texas, and all of our expert technicians are thoroughly trained to use the most advanced restoration equipment on the market. Dry Force was founded with high-quality technicians and innovative clean-up methods at its core, and after 20 years, we are providing better water damage solutions than ever.
Thank you for your trust all these years. If your home is suffering from roof leaks in heavy rain, give Dry Force a call at (866) 484-4582 or book an appointment online. We work with all insurance companies on your behalf, hoping to minimize your out-of-pocket expenses as much as possible.