Detecting a roof leak at your home can be an unnerving experience. You may find yourself wondering what caused the leak in the first place and how extensive the damage is as a result. More than likely, you’ll need to contact a professional roofing repair company in your area for an accurate assessment, diagnosis, and repair.

However, there are some steps you can take in the meantime to minimize further damage until your roofer arrives, thus saving you money in repairs down the road.

Move Belongings

Once you’ve determined where the leak is occurring, you’ll want to move all furniture and belongings as far away from the leak zone as possible. This way, you can prevent them from being permanently damaged. This is especially true of furniture items such as beds and sofas, as these can easily become susceptible to mold and mildew growth.

If any of your items are already damaged, hold onto them. You may need to document them so as to receive reimbursement for a replacement from your homeowners insurance company. After all, most homeowners insurance policies cover water damage caused by roof leaks.

Try to Collect the Water

If possible, minimize the further spreading of the leak by placing a bucket or trash can underneath the location of the leak itself. This can help to trap water and keep it from spreading onto your floors and causing more damage down the road. Just be sure to keep an eye on the bucket as it fills up and dump it as necessary. With a large leak, the bucket may fill up quickly, so you’ll need to remain alert.

Contact Your Insurance Company

If your homeowners insurance policy covers water damage from roof leaking, be sure to contact your insurance company right away so as to report the damage and file a claim. In some cases, you may want to wait until after you’ve spoken with your insurance agent to call a roofing repair company. After all, some insurance companies have specific roofing contractors that they’ll require homeowners to work with in order to be reimbursed for the repairs.

Wait for Assistance

After you’ve made your insurance claim and set up your appointment with the roofing company, it’s recommended that you do not try climbing up on the roof or performing any repairs yourself. Not only could climbing onto the roof be dangerous, but trying your own repairs could actually be counter-productive and cause more damage in the long run. Instead, only trust your roofing repairs to a licensed and experienced roofing contractor.

While discovering a roof leak isn’t something any homeowner wants to experience, it’s more common than you may think. Therefore, all homeowners should make sure they know what steps to take in the event of a roof leak. Be sure to keep these tips in mind and you’ll be on your way to a quality repair in no time.