The chilly winter months are one of the worst times of the year for a roof leak to occur. Nobody wants icy cold water dripping into the home through a damaged roof. However, your roof is especially prone to leaks during winter. Exposure to weather elements damages roofs in multiple ways and water leaking through these cracks can cause further damage to your property. At A Roof 4 You, we are a leading roofing company in San Antonio. Our team can help you out with reliable repair and maintenance services for your roof.
What can cause your roof to leak in winter?
Four of the most common reasons why roofs are prone to leaks during winter are:
- The formation of ice dams
The indoor heating in your home causes the lower layers of the snow on your roof to melt and flow down the slope. However, as it nears the edges, the water freezes back into ice due to the exposure to cold air. This creates a dam around the eaves of the roof. As more snow melts on your roof, it would remain trapped by this damn and instead start seeping through the roof. This runoff would make its way into the attic, the exterior walls, and the insulation, causing extensive damage.
- Inadequate slope
One of the key reasons behind having a sloped roof is to allow snow to flow down the slope. However, in case your roof has a low slope, it may not be enough to keep draining out the snow. This can cause water to accumulate on the roof and start seeping through the shingles. A professional roof inspection can help you detect such problems early and take the necessary steps to prevent a roof leak.
- Clogged gutters
In case leaves, dirt and debris clog up the gutters around your roof, they would fail to drain the water from melting snow. This would result in the water accumulating on the roof and damaging it. Moreover, stagnant water remaining stuck inside the gutter can cause it to rust too. Unless you clean your roof gutters timely, you might have to arrange for expensive repairs.
- Broken shingles
Considering that shingles are the outermost layer of your roof, it is easy to see how broken shingles can lead to leaks. Having broken shingles implies leaving the inner layers of your roof exposed to snow and snowmelt water. This water can easily seep through the damaged parts. Broken shingles are easy to identify and a roofing company should be able to replace them with new shingles.
How to prevent roof leaks in winter?
Now that you know the potential causes behind roof leaks in the winter months, you might want to note how to prevent them. Well, it mostly depends on how proactive you are with fixing problems at an early stage. Get your roof inspected by professionals and arrange for the necessary maintenance or repairs to prevent water from leaking in. Installing a drip edge can help prevent ice dams from forming too. If you need our professional assistance, feel free to call A Roof 4 You at (210) 643-6507 or fill up this contact us form.