Stopping An Attic From Leaking

Recaulk the corner flashing if any areas have hardened caulk.

Stopping an attic from leaking.

The immediate thing to do is to contain dripping water from the leak. Replace incandescent bulbs with cooler operating compact fluorescent bulbs. Locate the source of the leak by examining the underside of the roof from within your attic or crawl space. Use a putty knife to spread the tar into the leaking hole on the inside of your roof.

Use a sponge to absorb any standing water. Solving air leaks attic condensation is due to humid air leaking or vented into the attic. If your ceiling has a plastic vapor barrier between the drywall and the attic insulation push the insulation aside and look for flow stains on the plastic. With the unit turned off inspect your drain pan and pipe for leaks.

Once you ve found the leak you can make a temporary leak patch from some plywood or shingle and some roofing tar. Vent humid air from kitchens and bathrooms to the outside instead of the attic to avoid this problem. Sometimes the water shows up at a ceiling spot distant from the leak. Trowel the roofing tar into the leak on the underside of the roof deck using a putty knife.

How to repair a leaky roof from inside the house. It is important to prevent water damaging the ceiling. Dig out any cracked or dry caulking that isn t properly sealing adjoining surfaces and replace with silicone caulk. Any blockage can cause a leak especially those in gutters or a downspout.

Replace any missing or rotted siding above the step flashing on dormers. Clearing leaves and debris and allowing water to flow normally can immediately make a leak go away. Use a wet dry vac to clean the overflow pan and inspect the bottom corners and edges with a flashlight. Often water runs to openings in the vapor barrier such as at ceiling light fixtures.

Replace your old recessed lights with air tight insulated can models available at home centers and lighting stores. Place the shingle or plywood onto the tar and spread more of the tar around the edges of your patch. Shine a flashlight along the underside of the roof and look for a hole in the roof as well as areas that are wet or have been. The pipe is usually connected to your drip pan and discharges the condensate outside.

Here are the solutions we recommend if you have recessed can lights protruding into your attic.