If your roof is leaking during rain, the safest first move is to keep away from the wet area, turn off power to it if you can do that safely, catch and move the water, take photos, and call a licensed roofer. Do not climb onto a wet roof. Everything in this guide happens inside the house, and the permanent fix comes after a professional has looked at the roof.
Step 1: Keep away from wet electrics
Water and electricity are the real danger in a ceiling leak. Light fixtures, ceiling fans, smoke detectors, outlets and switches near the leak can all end up wet. The U.S. government's flood-safety guidance is blunt about it: do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water, and turn off the electricity to prevent electric shock if it is safe to do so (Ready.gov).
In practice that means:
- Don't flip a switch or use an outlet in a room where water is dripping from the ceiling near it.
- If water is running out of a light fixture or fan, leave it alone and keep people and pets away from that spot.
- If you can reach your electrical panel without crossing standing water, switching off the circuit for that room is the safe way to cut power. If you can't do it safely, don't try. Call a licensed electrician.
- Keep out from under a ceiling that is sagging or bulging.
Step 2: Catch the water and move your things
Once the area is safe to be near, limit the damage:
- Put a bucket, pot or storage bin under each drip. Lay a towel or a flat piece of plastic under it to stop splashing.
- Move furniture, rugs, electronics and anything valuable out of the room, or at least away from the drips.
- Cover items you can't move with plastic sheeting.
- Empty the bucket before it is full, and don't carry a full container across a wet floor.
If the ceiling is bulging with water, keep everyone out of the room and call a licensed roofer.
Step 3: Photograph everything
Take clear photos and short videos of the leak while it is happening: the wet spot on the ceiling, the drip, the water on the floor, and anything that got damaged. Take a wide shot of the room and a close one of each stain. Note the date and time, and roughly where the spot sits compared with the outside of the house, for example under the chimney, near a bathroom vent or below a valley.
The California Department of Insurance advises homeowners to photograph damage, keep a list of damaged items, keep damaged items until the adjuster says otherwise, and save receipts for materials they buy to protect the property (California Department of Insurance). Whether a leak is covered, and for how much, is a question only your insurer can answer. Clever Roofing doesn't give insurance advice, so read your policy or call your agent.
Step 4: Stay off the roof
It is tempting to go up and cover the spot. Don't. A wet roof is slippery, and a fall is a far bigger problem than a leak. The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) strongly urges homeowners not to attempt roof repairs on their own and says damage assessment and repairs should be done by a professional roofing contractor (NRCA).
The place where water shows up inside is also not always the place where it gets in. That is one more reason that guessing from below, or patching from above in the rain, often misses the real source. A roofer looks at the whole path.
Why drying the area matters
Wet drywall, insulation and carpet are where mold can start. Ready.gov says people with asthma, other lung conditions or immune suppression should not enter buildings with indoor water leaks or mold growth that can be seen or smelled (Ready.gov). The California Department of Insurance says to report any water damage claim to your agent or insurer immediately, to dry wet areas promptly, and to contact your claims adjuster right away if you suspect mold.
Once the rain stops and it's safe, mop up standing water and pull wet rugs and loose items out so they can dry. Don't paint over a stain to hide it: it covers up what the roofer needs to see.
Why the permanent fix follows a professional look
Catching water in a bucket is a pause, not a repair. A licensed roofer needs to find where the water gets in and what is wrong there. Common places on a roof include flashing around a chimney, skylight or vent pipe, a valley where two roof slopes meet, worn or slipped tiles or shingles, the underlayment under tile, and seams on a flat roof. Different causes need different fixes, and you can only tell which it is by looking at the roof.
A leak that shows up in one storm may show up again in the next, so an early look is usually better than waiting. Our roof leak repair page explains how we connect you with a licensed roofer for it, and a roof inspection is a way to check the rest of the roof once the weather clears.
When to call a pro
Call a licensed roofer as soon as the leak is under control, or immediately if any of these are true:
- Water is coming in during rain and you can't keep up with it.
- The ceiling is sagging or bulging.
- The leak is near a light fixture, fan or electrical panel (call a licensed electrician too).
- It's the second or third time this season.
- You can see daylight in the attic, missing tiles or shingles, or a damaged skylight.
What to tell the roofer when you call
A few specifics help a roofer plan the visit and judge how urgent it is:
- Where the water comes through, and which room is below it.
- When it started, and whether it only happens in heavy rain, wind-driven rain or any rain.
- What type of roof it is (tile, shingle, flat) and roughly how old it is.
- Whether this spot has leaked before or has been repaired.
- That you have photos and videos of the leak and the damage.
- Anything inside that is still wet.
Then say what you've already done: bucket in place, power off to the area, furniture moved. It helps them understand the situation before they arrive.
Be careful who you hire in a hurry
After a storm, some people knock on doors offering roof work. NRCA advises being wary of contractors who approach you, being skeptical of the lowest bid ("if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is"), and evaluating a contractor thoroughly before paying a deposit or starting work. Check any roofer's license with the Contractors State License Board before you agree to anything.
Clever Roofing is a referral service that connects Los Angeles County and Orange County homeowners with a licensed roofer. See the areas we cover, or ask for a free estimate and describe the leak.
This guide is general information, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Clever is a referral service, not a contractor.