Roof Leaking in the Middle of Winter? What Northeast Ohio Homeowners Should Do Right Now (and What Can Wait for Spring)

It always seems to happen at the worst time. There's a foot of snow on the roof in Parma, it's 18 degrees outside, and you notice a brown spot on the bedroom ceiling. By dinner, it's dripping.

Take a breath. Most winter roof leaks are fixable, and the steps you take in the first few hours matter more than anything else. Here's what to do right now, what not to do, and what can safely wait until the weather breaks.

Water and electricity don't mix, and winter leaks love to show up around ceiling lights and fans.

• Don't touch a light fixture, fan, or switch that's wet or has water running near it. Don't flip the switch to "see if it still works."
• Only shut off power at the breaker if you can reach the panel from a dry spot with dry hands. The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) warns never to touch a breaker with wet hands or while standing on a wet surface.
• If getting to the panel means stepping in water, don't. Call an electrician or your utility.
• Have an electrician check anything that got wet before you use it again. ESFI says to keep the power off to water-damaged equipment until a qualified professional has looked at it.
• Stay out from under a ceiling that's sagging or bulging. That's water collecting above the drywall, and it can come down all at once.

Once you're safe, slow the damage down.

• Put a bucket or tub under the drip. Lay a towel in the bottom so the splashing doesn't spread.
• Move furniture, rugs, and electronics out of the way, or cover them with plastic.
• Start drying things out right away. The U.S. EPA says water-damaged areas and items should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to help prevent mold. Fans and a dehumidifier go a long way.

Before you toss anything or make a repair, document it:

• Photos and video of the ceiling, walls, floors, and anything that got wet
• The date and time you first noticed the leak
• Receipts for anything you buy to stop the damage (tarps, buckets, a dehumidifier) or pay someone to do

You'll want all of this if you end up filing a claim. Our guide to filing a roof insurance claim in Ohio walks through the rest.

We know the temptation. You want to go up there and find the problem. Please don't.

OSHA's guidance on rooftop snow removal says falls cause the most deaths and injuries during this kind of work, and recommends clearing snow from the ground whenever possible. Those rules are written for trained workers with fall protection. A homeowner on an icy, snow-covered roof in Strongsville or Mentor has none of that.

So:

• Don't climb onto a snowy or icy roof. Not even "just for a minute."
• Don't chip at ice dams with a hammer, shovel, or ice pick. You'll tear up shingles long before the ice gives.
• Don't use a ladder on ice or frozen ground.
• A roof rake used from the ground to pull the bottom few feet of snow off is the safer option, if you can do it without standing under falling snow or reaching near power lines.

Owens Corning says the same thing in its winter roofing guidance: leave on-the-roof work to a professional, because improper snow removal can damage shingles and is dangerous.

Knowing the likely cause helps you explain what you're seeing when you call a roofer.

• Ice dams. Heat from the house melts snow on the upper roof, the water runs down to the cold edge, and it refreezes into a ridge of ice. The next round of meltwater backs up under the shingles. If your leak is near an outside wall and shows up on a sunny afternoon after a snowfall, an ice dam is the first thing we'd check. Our ice dam guide covers prevention.
• Attic frost and condensation. Sometimes it isn't the roof at all. Warm, moist air gets into a cold attic, freezes on the underside of the roof deck, and then melts on a warm day. If the "leak" shows up in a lot of spots at once with no storm, read our post on attic frost and condensation.
• Wind-damaged or missing shingles. November and December wind storms off Lake Erie can lift shingles and break their seal. Snow and rain then find the gap. See how to spot roof wind damage.
• Flashing and pipe boots. Rubber pipe boots crack with age, and flashing around chimneys and skylights can loosen. These are common leak points year-round, but snow sitting against them makes it worse.
• Clogged gutters. A gutter full of leaves holds water, that water freezes, and you've got a head start on an ice dam.

It depends on the cause and your policy, so call your agent or carrier to confirm. A few general points:

• Sudden and accidental damage is usually what policies cover. Insurers generally treat interior water damage from an ice dam or a storm as a covered loss when it's sudden and accidental, subject to your deductible and policy terms.
• Wear and tear usually isn't covered. The Insurance Information Institute notes that standard homeowners policies don't cover poor maintenance. An old roof that's been slowly failing for years is a tough claim.
• You're expected to prevent more damage. State insurance regulators, including guidance shared through the NAIC, tell homeowners to make reasonable temporary repairs, like covering a damaged roof with a tarp, and to keep receipts. They also warn against making permanent repairs before your insurer has a chance to look, since they may not pay for repairs they didn't get to inspect.
• Removing an ice dam may not be covered even when the water damage it caused is. Check your policy.

If you're not sure whether a leak is storm damage or old age, our post on hail damage vs. normal wear explains how adjusters usually tell the difference.

Good news: a winter leak doesn't mean living with a bucket until April.

What can usually happen right away:

• Temporary protection. When conditions are safe, a roofer can cover the damaged area with a tarp or make a temporary patch to stop the water.
• Interior and attic inspection. We can often find the source from the attic, check for wet insulation, and look for ventilation problems, no matter what the weather is doing.
• Targeted repairs on mild days. Northeast Ohio gets breaks in the weather even in January. Replacing a few shingles, a cracked pipe boot, or a loose piece of flashing can often be done on a dry day.

What might be better to plan for spring:

• Big repairs and full replacements can be done in cold weather, but it takes extra care. Owens Corning's cold-weather bulletin says shingles installed at or below 40 degrees may not seal until warmer weather activates the sealant strip, and calls for hand-sealing perimeter shingles with roofing cement. It's doable, but sometimes a good temporary fix now and a full job in spring is the smarter call. Our post on replacing a roof in fall or winter gets into the details.

We'll tell you straight which bucket you're in. If your roof just needs a small repair, we're not going to sell you a new roof.

Print this and stick it on the fridge:

1. 1Stay away from wet lights, fans, and outlets. Shut off the breaker only from a dry spot.
2. 2Catch the water and move your stuff.
3. 3Take photos and video before cleaning up. Save receipts.
4. 4Start drying within 24 to 48 hours.
5. 5Stay off the roof. Use a roof rake from the ground only if it's safe.
6. 6Call your insurance agent if the damage looks storm-related.
7. 7Call a roofer for a temporary fix and an inspection.

Whether you're in Lakewood, Westlake, Elyria, Medina, or Painesville, we'll come out, find where the water is getting in, and tell you what it needs now and what can wait. Inspections and quotes are free. Learn more about our roof repair service or see if there's storm damage we should look at. We serve homeowners across the area, including Parma, Strongsville, and Mentor.

Pring Roofing has served Northeast Ohio since 1936. We're fully insured, hold a BBB A+ rating, and are an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor, an Elevate (formerly Firestone) Licensed Applicator, and a Carlisle authorized applicator.

Call (216) 941-6298 or email contact@pringroofing.com, or request a free quote online. We answer 7 days a week, 7am to 10pm.

Sources: Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), "Flood Electrical Safety: High Water, High Stakes"; U.S. EPA, "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home"; OSHA, "Falls and Other Hazards to Workers Removing Snow from Rooftops and Other Elevated Surfaces" hazard alert; Owens Corning, "Can You Get a New Roof or a Roof Repair in the Winter?" and Cold Weather Shingle Installation Technical Bulletin; Insurance Information Institute, "Homeowners Insurance Basics"; NAIC Post-Disaster Claims Guide; North Carolina Department of Insurance, "Loss Prevention and Aftermath." This post is general information, not insurance or electrical advice. Check your own policy with your agent, and call a qualified electrician for anything involving wet wiring.