The Arctic freeze that covered the area last week has finally relented, and the snow is starting to melt. As the temperatures rise, so does the number of homeowners who are seeing water leaks in their homes.

You may be worried that your roof is leaking – but the Rooferees say it’s probably not the roof.

The extreme weather we experienced is exposing other problems within your home. The snow that has built up on your roof is beginning to melt during the day and then freezes overnight. This change in temperature can cause condensation to build up in attics and drip into the home. In addition, ice dams are forming on rooftops, which prevents the water from draining off the roof. The root cause of these problems is a lack of proper insulation.

“If you don’t have the correct amount of insulation in your attic, which should be anywhere from 18 to 22 inches, your attic is sucking in cold air from the vents,” said Lovewell. “If your vents on your soffits are plugged, then your air can’t come in and the air can’t go out. With extreme temperatures, you’re creating a rain forest in your attic, so then you’re getting dripping.”

Trent advises homeowners to let Mother Nature melt the snow. If you live in a single-story home, brush snow and ice off the roof and soffits with a soft broom or snow rake if you can safely reach.

If you have had minor leakage inside, don’t worry. You can use a spray-on primer to kill bacteria that may be present, and mold is not likely to be an issue in Winter because it’s too cold. Have your attic inspected after the temperatures warm.

“Make sure you have enough insulation in your attic,” he said. “Get an attic inspection and make sure your soffits aren’t blocked,” said Trent.

Trent shared these tips with WOWT Channel 6 viewers.