---
title: How Can You Know If Your Roof Is Leaking?
date: 2021-02-01T13:00:00Z
modified: 2026-05-26T14:42:28Z
permalink: "https://aicroofing.com/know-if-roof-is-leaking/"
type: post
status: publish
excerpt: ""
wpid: 5190
categories:
  - Attics
  - Missing Shingles
  - Roof Leak
  - Roof System
  - Ventilation
tags:
  - Default
content_type:
  - Article
featured_image: "https://aicroofing.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/BLOG-AIC-Roof-is-Leaking.jpg"
featured_image_alt: How Can You Know If Your Roof Is Leaking?
---

It must be leaking. It is _not_ leaking! Maybe it’s leaking. I guess it could be leaking. The kitchen table debate could go on all evening, but how can you tell if your roof is leaking?

## **Warning Signs**

Look for these warning signs of a leaky residential roof. You may not see them all in your Central Kentucky home, but if you see even one or two, contact your local roofer immediately:

- **Water stains** — Drywall absorbs the dripping water from the attic above
- **High indoor humidity** — Even the best attic ventilation cannot dissipate constant inflowing water
- **A musty or unpleasant smell pervading the house** — Mold and mildew set up housekeeping wherever moisture allows
- **Dripping water** — In your attic or, worse, in your living space
- **Dark spots on walls or ceilings** — Drywall discolors and is breeding ground for mold
- **Exterior walls are discolored** — Growing moss or show algae blooms
- **Shingle granules in your home’s gutters** — The granules are the water resistance; their loss means your shingles are failing
- [**Missing, broken, or dislodged shingles**](https://aicroofing.com/blog/how-to-tell-when-your-roof-needs-a-replacement-vs-repair/) — Shingles must overlap for maximum protection
- **Damaged or missing flashing** — Flashing prevents water infiltration between different materials, like a stone chimney and an asphalt shingle roof

## **Action Steps**

Never inspect your home’s roof yourself. A roof, even a low-slope roof, is dangerous territory for unskilled feet.

From the ground, visually inspect your home and, if you feel comfortable, climb an extension ladder to check a horizontal gutter. If you see granules, or any of the other visible signs mentioned above, contact your local roofer.

A good residential roofer can prevent further damage by installing a tarp over your damaged roof. Next, the roofer will schedule[ roof repairs](https://aicroofing.com/roof-repair-near-me/) and, if an insurance claim is warranted, work with your insurance company.

Many residential roofs can be easily and inexpensively repaired so water leaks stop immediately. A newer roof or one with sustained obvious damage in one small area does not need to be replaced. A simple one- or two-day repair job will be the economical solution.

More extensive damage may not show itself, however, until a roofer does a complete inspection. Depending on age and other factors, a[ full roof replacement](https://aicroofing.com/blog/4-reasons-to-replace-roof/) may be needed to stop roof leaks.

One call to AIC Roofing & Construction Inc. in Central Kentucky can put a stop to roof leaks permanently.[ Contact us today](https://aicroofing.com/contact-us/) so we can help you have a safe, dry, and happy home.

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