Along with making sure rain, snow, and other stuff Mother Nature sends your way stays outside your home, your roof is also responsible for keeping heat inside your home. Unfortunately, this doesn't always happen. Due to various factors, your home could be losing a significant amount of heat each year through the roof. When this happens, your home's heating bills begin to rise, taking more money out of your pocket. If you suspect you're losing heat through your home's roof, here are three signs that will let you know repairs are in order.
Where's the Snow?
During the winter when it snows, it's a good thing if you see your roof covered with the white stuff. When it is, this means your roof is still very cold, which is what you want. However, if you look at your roof shortly after a snowfall and can still easily see it, you've got a problem. This likely means the roof is warm and is thus letting heat escape due to poor insulation.
Missing or Damaged Shingles
When your home's roof was first installed, it was meant to last decades. But just like anything else, your roof's shingles eventually wear out. When they do, this sets the stage for significant heat loss within your home. Whether you have shingles that are damaged or missing altogether, any cracks or holes that may be exposed allow heat to escape your home. If you notice your roof looking a bit beat up, contact a professional roofer to address those issues.
Little to No Insulation
When it comes to keeping heat inside your home, you need to have insulation in your attic and crawl space between your ceiling and the roof to prevent all of the heat from escaping through the roof. Even if your home doesn’t have an attic, crawl space insulation can make a big difference regarding heat retention in your home. Some older homes have little to no insulation due to the age of the insulation. Without proper insulation, there is very little in the way of a barrier to keep your heat from leaking out through the roof.
You're Noticing Condensation or Leaks
When heat is escaping through your roof, one of the most obvious signs you will notice in your home is condensation or leaks. If there is one thing you don't want happening inside your home, it is water dripping from ceilings or from your attic. Should this happen, you will not only need to address your home's roofing and insulation issues but also take care of any water damage that happens. Over time, condensation and leaks will damage carpeting, furniture, and other things in your home, as well as create perfect places for mold and mildew to grow and spread, which could result in health problems for you and your family.
Once you have a pretty good idea your home is experiencing heat loss through its roof, don't delay in addressing the problem. If you do, the result may be mold and mildew throughout your home, as well as much higher utility bills month after month.
