Who to Call for a Roof Leak: Steps to Take Right Now

Before we get into the details, here’s the part I wish every homeowner heard upfront. Most “roof advice” online is written like Utah has the same weather as somewhere mild and flat. We don’t.

On real inspections, we’re usually paying attention to the boring stuff: flashing, ventilation, drain paths, and how the previous install handled edges and penetrations. Those are the spots that decide whether your roof behaves during snow melt, wind-driven rain, and late-summer monsoons.

When someone asks about who to call for roof leak, we try to answer in plain English. What fails first on this type of roof? What’s easy to maintain? What’s expensive to fix later if we ignore it now?

If you remember nothing else, remember this: roofs don’t “randomly” leak. They leak where water is being funneled, trapped, or pushed—usually around transitions and details. That’s where good planning and good installation pay off.

Maintenance isn’t glamorous, but it’s cheap insurance. A 10-minute look in the attic after a storm, or a quick check for popped nails and loose flashing, can prevent the kind of surprise that ruins a ceiling.

In Utah, the biggest “silent” issue we see is poor ventilation. It shows up as ice dams, uneven shingle aging, and higher energy bills—long before you see an obvious leak.

Before you pick up the phone, get the water under control. Move furniture and anything you care about away from the drip. Put buckets or bins under the leak and empty them as needed. If you have a tarp or plastic sheeting, you can drape it to direct water into a bucket or out of the way.

Don't go into the attic during heavy rain or if the ceiling is sagging. Wet insulation and decking can collapse. If you do go up, step only on framing—joists and rafters—and watch for soft spots. The goal is to see roughly where the water is coming in, not to fix it yourself.

If the leak is severe and you can't contain it, call a roofer for emergency tarping. Many companies offer same-day or next-day tarp service to get the roof sealed until a full repair can be scheduled. That's often the single best thing you can do to stop further interior damage.

For water coming from the ceiling after rain or snow melt, the cause is usually the roof. So the first call should be a licensed roofer. We're trained to find the source—which might not be directly above the stain—and to repair or tarp it.

Choose a local roofer with good reviews and a physical address. Ask if they do leak investigations and emergency tarping. Get a clear quote for the tarp (if needed) and for the permanent repair. Avoid anyone who pressures you to sign a full replacement contract before they've even looked at the roof.

If you're not sure it's the roof—for example, the leak appears during a thaw and you have pipes in the attic—you can describe the situation to a roofer first. Many of us will tell you if it sounds like a plumbing issue and suggest calling a plumber instead. That one call can save you from paying the wrong trade to show up.

Not every ceiling leak is the roof. If the leak happens when it's not raining—or gets worse when you run a faucet or flush a toilet—think plumbing. Attic pipes, supply lines, and condensate lines can leak and mimic a roof leak. In that case, call a plumber.

If you have a skylight and the leak is right around it, it could be the skylight seal or flashing. A roofer handles that. If you have an HVAC unit in the attic, condensate drain backups can spill water. An HVAC tech or roofer might be needed depending on where the water ends up.

When in doubt, start with the roofer. We're used to tracing leaks and can often tell from the attic or roof walk whether the water is coming from the roof system or from something else. One inspection can point you to the right trade.

If the leak is from a sudden event—storm, wind, fallen tree—your homeowner's policy may cover the repair and interior damage. Call your insurance company to open a claim and get their process started. They'll often want photos and may send an adjuster.

If the leak is from wear and tear, age, or lack of maintenance, insurance usually won't pay. They expect you to maintain the roof. So don't assume every leak is a claim; check your policy and be prepared to pay for repairs that are considered maintenance.

Either way, get the roof sealed first (tarp or repair). Stopping the water is priority one. You can sort out insurance while the roof is dry.