Many homeowners might presume a dripping roof is just a small structural issue, but little do they know that this can lead to various safety and health dangers. Even a little roof leak can cause more problems in your home and end up being a headache later on if not repaired. You may procrastinate fixing numerous household problems, but not a dripping roof.
Some aspects that cause leaking roofs are wind or storm damage, inappropriate installation of the roof, and lack of maintenance. Roofs may last 20 to 30 years, so if it hasn’t been replaced for that period and begins to reveal indications of leakages or drips, it might be time to replace them. Now let us understand the risks a leaking roof can cause you and your home.
Five Potential Hazards of Leaky Roofs
A leaking or dripping roof is one of the major reasons for water damage, and everyone knows this might be serious if it keeps going unattended. Here are five hazards of leaky roofs we have rounded up to encourage you to repair them right away if you have one in your residence.
1. Fire hazards
If you have electrical wires or connections in your ceiling or attic where a leaky roof is most exposed, it may cause fire risks from the shorted wires. When dealing with this situation, it’s advisable to turn off the electricity in the damaged part and have an electrical expert come over to look at the damage that needs to be repaired.
2. Mold and mildew
Mold can grow in your home if your roof drips. Mold and mildew do not point to the directions the water has flowed either. Those who struggle with asthma, allergies, environmental sensitivities, and compromised body immune systems can be seriously ill from mold spores found in water-damaged homes.
If you see your house having molds all over, it could be a sign of water damage. Employ damage restoration Redlands companies that offer mold removal services straight away to prevent it from developing even more.
3. Damaged ceilings and attics
Water from dripping roofs goes directly from the ceiling to the attic. An unaddressed leak in your roof can create water damage to the contents of your attic and your ceiling. The affected part of your painted ceiling may appear darker in color, and ceiling plaster may bubble or expand.
This may also cause damage to the nearby walls and affect ceiling-mounted lights and fans. When dealing with a leaky roof or any indications of water damage, it’s best to have restoration experts like PuroClean of Redlands come by to prevent more damage.
4. Slip Injury
Slippery floorings are everybody’s nightmare, and you may be on your way with one if you have a leaking roof. Water leaks from roofs to your home can cause puddles, causing people inside that house to slip up due to the slippery patches from roof leakages.
5. Compromised structure
Even the strongest homes are not saved from the rot water damage can cause. A tiny ignored leak in your roof may develop into something serious and put your home’s structure at risk. Water drips can run into your foundation levels and cause rot that can damage its structure and make it unstable gradually.
