Your Knoxville-area roof leaks after a storm. What should you do?

Stop the damage

• Put out buckets and towels, and move furniture and electronics.
• If a ceiling bulges with water, poke a small hole at its lowest point over a bucket. Stay away from light fixtures.
• Turn off breakers to wet ceiling lights or outlets.
• Photograph the ceiling, walls, floors and damaged belongings.
• Have a roofer tarp the source; see emergency tarping.

Proving the storm caused it

Short answer: show that a specific storm opened the roof, and report it quickly.

• Write down the date and time the leak began, and save the storm report from the Storm Center.
• Ask the roofer to photograph the opening: a missing shingle, a cracked boot, a loose metal screw, a limb hole.
• Keep any earlier photos showing a dry ceiling.

Where storm water gets in

Winter leaks

East Tennessee has two leak seasons: spring, when hail weakens shingles before heavy rain, and winter, when ice dams and snow melt find weak spots.

NOAA lists heavy snow on more than 60 dates in the five counties since 2006. When snow sits on a roof over a warm attic, melt water can refreeze at the eaves and back up under shingles, showing up as stains near outside walls. Many homeowners policies cover sudden water damage inside from an ice dam but not the ice itself. See ice dams in East Tennessee.

Cabins and second homes

Leaks in an empty cabin can go unnoticed for weeks, and long-running water damage is often excluded. If you own a rental or second home, have someone check it after big storms, snow or high wind, and ask your insurer about any vacancy rules in your policy.

Mold

Wet drywall and insulation can grow mold within a day or two. Dry quickly with fans and a dehumidifier and remove soaked insulation. Policies often limit mold coverage.

What usually isn't covered

• Leaks from age, worn sealant or poor installation.
• Damage from leaks that went on for a long time.
• Further damage from not stopping the water.
• Rising floodwater, which requires flood insurance.

Tennessee deadlines

Report the claim promptly. If the insurer denies it, check your policy's suit limitation clause, which in many Tennessee policies is one year from the loss.

Finding the source in the attic

If it is safe to get into the attic, look during or soon after rain with a flashlight. Water usually runs down rafters before it drips, so follow stains uphill to where they start. On metal roofs, look for drips at screw lines. Photograph what you find for the roofer and the adjuster, and pull back wet insulation so the drywall can dry.

Repeat leaks after a repair

If a roof keeps leaking after a storm repair, tell the roofer in writing right away and keep the invoice and photos. A leak at the repaired spot may be a workmanship issue under the roofer's warranty. A leak somewhere new may be more storm damage that was missed, which can be added to the claim as a supplement if you act quickly.