Emergency Guide: What To Do If My Roof is Leaking from Melting Snow!

Finding a water stain on your ceiling or hearing the steady rhythm of a drip during a mid-winter thaw is a stressful experience for any homeowner. Your first instinct might be to panic or to grab a ladder and head for the roof, but reacting impulsively can lead to dangerous situations or further damage. When the snow starts to melt and the water finds its way inside, you need a tactical plan to mitigate the damage immediately. This guide outlines the essential steps you should take the moment you realize your roof is leaking from melting snow.

The absolute first rule in this situation is safety. It is vital that you stay off the roof. Walking on a snow covered or icy roof is incredibly dangerous, even for professionals without the proper safety harnesses and equipment. Furthermore, if an ice dam has formed, the weight of the ice and snow can make the structure unpredictable. Your focus should remain on what you can do from inside the house and from the safety of the ground.

Once you have prioritized your physical safety, you must move to contain and drain the water. Clear the area under the leak by moving furniture, electronics, and rugs to a dry room. Place a bucket or a large bin under the drip to catch the water, and consider laying down towels to catch any splashes that might damage your flooring. If you notice a bulge in the ceiling drywall where water is pooling, it is actually safer to poke a small hole in the center of that bulge with a screwdriver. While this seems counterintuitive, it allows the water to drain into your bucket in a controlled manner rather than allowing the weight to build up until the entire ceiling collapses.

Next, conduct a binocular inspection from your driveway. Step outside and look for signs of ice dams, which often look like thick ridges of ice along the gutters or large, heavy icicles hanging from the eaves. Take note of where the leak is occurring inside the house and try to match it to what you see on the exterior. This information is invaluable when you call for professional help. Being able to tell a contractor that the leak is happening directly under a specific valley or near a chimney helps them diagnose the problem much faster once they arrive.

While you wait for a professional team to arrive, you can also attempt to manage the attic environment. If you can safely access your attic, check to see if you can identify where the water is entering. Do not attempt to patch it from the inside, as this usually just redirects the water to another part of your ceiling. Instead, if the attic is excessively warm, you can try to cool it down by turning off any nearby heat sources or, if safe, increasing ventilation. Slowing down the melt rate can help reduce the volume of water entering your home until the ice dam can be professionally addressed.

At Primex Exterior Solutions, we understand the urgency of a roofing emergency. Our team is experienced in handling the unique challenges of winter leaks and ice dam remediation. We don’t just stop the leak; we help you understand why it happened and how to prevent it from returning next year. We provide high quality roofing and siding solutions designed to withstand the volatile weather of our region.



If you are currently experiencing a leak or are worried about the state of your roof after a heavy storm, reach out to us immediately. Visit our contact page at primexexteriors.com to get in touch with our team. We are here to provide the expert help and professional service you need to protect your home and your family from the elements.