If you see water stains coming from your attic and extending across your ceilings, it means that you have a leaking roof. While there are several home maintenance issues you can postpone, a leaking roof repair is not one of them. If you have a leaky roof, it is very important that you get it inspected and repaired right away. While a leaky roof might seem like a normal structural fault, it has detrimental effects.
So why should you treat a leaky roof with such urgency? The following are the dangers of a leaky roof:
Insulation Damage and High Utility Bills
As water continues to leak into your house, it will end up damaging any insulation you have installed inside your home. This will cause the insulation to clump, which makes it ineffective when it comes to keeping cool or warm air inside your home, depending on the season. This means that your HVAC system will be forced to work harder in order to keep your home cool or warm, thus increasing your monthly utility bills.
Structural Damage
When water seeps through your roof, it ends up compromising the ceiling joints and wall framing. As the roof continues to leak, the wet wood will rot and lose its strength. The roofing system will then sag, and if not repaired in good time, it will collapse. Additionally, the exterior trim and foundation levels can also be damaged depending on where the water is leaking from.
These damages are very expensive to repair since they require a lot of materials and labor. Therefore, always ensure that you stop these leaks in their tracks before they develop into bigger problems.
Mold and Mildew
As the water drips from your leaking roof and accesses the attic area, it will result in dampness. The damp surfaces will inevitably result in a serious mold and mildew problem. As a homeowner, you need to understand that mold and mildew do not just indicate where the water has settled.
Mold and mildew can easily damage your HVAC system, clothes, furniture, ceiling tiles, walls, wood framing, and floor coverings. Mold can also lead to serious illnesses, especially among people with asthma and allergies. In extreme cases, mold compromises immune systems and causes permanent lung damage.
Do you have a leaking roof that needs repair? Contact us today at Lowcountry Roofing and Exteriors, and let us take care of all your roofing needs.