Are Your Skylights Leaking?
Have you ever woken up in the morning only to find a puddle on your floor and a leaky skylight?
It’s the worst, right? But don’t worry — you’re not alone.
Skylights can be a real blessing, bringing natural light and a view of the sky into your home, but when they start to leak, it can be a real headache. It’s not only a huge bother, but it can also cause damage to your home if left unfixed.
But don’t fret! In this article, we’ll dive into why skylights leak and give you some practical tips on how to fix them.
Is your skylight leaking only during the rainy season?
If you’re only experiencing leaks during the rainy season, there’s likely a problem with the installation, the materials used to make your skylight, or the surrounding area. Let’s look at some of the most common causes of skylight leaks during the rainy season.
Reason 1: Broken or cracked skylight
One of the most obvious causes of skylight leaks during the rainy season is a broken or cracked skylight. If your skylight is made of glass, it can be susceptible to cracks or breaks from falling debris, hail, or other impacts.
How to fix it?
If you notice any cracks or breaks in your skylight, it’s essential to repair or replace it as soon as possible to prevent leaks. You’ll need to contact a professional to assess the damage, replace the entire skylight if necessary, and prevent such damages in the future.
Reason 2: Worn or damaged weather seals
Weather seals around the skylight are crucial to keep the water and moisture out. But, over time, the weather seals around your skylight can crack, become brittle, or otherwise deteriorate, allowing water to seep into your home. This can be due to extreme temperature changes, exposure to the elements, or simply aging.
How to fix it?
If you notice any cracks or damage to the sealant around your skylight, it’s time to repair or replace it. You can easily notice the brittle sealant and replace them within a few minutes.
Reason 3: Degraded flashing
Flashing is a metal sheet installed around your skylight’s base to prevent water from seeping in. Over time, flashing can rust and become degraded, allowing water to leak into your home. This can be due to exposure to the elements, improper installation, or simply aging.
How to fix it?
If there isn’t too much damage to the flashing, you can seal the area with caulking. nut but if the flashing has rusted beyond repair, then you may need to replace the entire skylight.
Reason 4: Poor roof design
A poor roof design can also cause skylight leaks during the rainy season. If your roof isn’t designed to direct water away from your skylight, water can pool around the skylight and cause leaks. Additionally, if your roof has any low spots or valleys, water can collect in these areas and cause leaks.
How to fix it?
When your skylight is often leaking, or even your sealant gets worn out sooner than it should, it’s a good idea to have your roof inspected to ensure it’s properly designed and functioning as it should.
Reason 5: Ineffective drainage
Lastly, poor drainage around your skylight can also cause leaks during the rainy season.
If water isn’t properly directed away from your skylight, it can pool around the base, causing water to seep in. This can be due to incorrect installation, clogged drainage systems, or other factors.
How to fix it?
First, check if the drainage or gutters are clogged with leaves, debris, or other materials. This means the water can overflow and find its way into your home through your skylight.
To prevent this from happening, make sure that your skylight is installed on a slope or that a drainage system is in place to direct water away from the skylight. Additionally, it’s important to periodically check your drainage system and clear the gutter of any blockages.
Is your skylight leaking even when it isn’t the rainy season?
If your skylight leaks even when it isn’t raining, the problem could be condensation.
Condensation occurs when too much humidity inside your home and insufficient ventilation to dissipate the moisture. This excess moisture can collect on your skylight, causing water to leak. To prevent condensation, make sure your home is properly ventilated, and air circulates your skylight. You can also consider installing dehumidifiers to reduce humidity levels inside your home.
Additionally, if you have a double-paned skylight, the seals around the edges of the skylight can become worn over time, causing condensation between the panes. In this case, the only solution is to replace the skylight with a new one.
It’s vital to address skylight condensation as soon as possible to prevent mold and mildew growth and maintain your skylight’s structural integrity. A little preventative maintenance can go a long way in preventing leaks and ensuring your skylight continues functioning properly for years to come.
Want to get your leaky skylight checked out? Contact our team at Preserve Roofing at 678-956-5152 to get down to the bottom of the issue and fix it immediately. From fixing issues with your clogged gutters to replacing the skylight with a better quality one, we can address all of your roofing issues.
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