Roof: leaks, shingles and ice dams
The roof keeps rain and snow out of the house, so trouble usually shows up inside first, as a stain or drip. A leak can start well away from where it shows. Missing shingles leave the layer underneath exposed, and winter ice dams push meltwater back under the roof edge. Stay off the roof and look from the ground.
- Roof leaking?A ceiling stain or drip after rain or snowmelt, from damaged shingles, flashing, vent boots, ice or ventilation trouble.
- Missing roof shingles?Bare patches, shingle pieces in the yard or a gap in the roof after wind or a storm.
- Ice dams on your roof?Thick ice and icicles along the roof edge in winter, sometimes with stains on ceilings near outside walls.
Typical lifespan: about 20 years for three-tab shingles and about 30 for architectural shingles, with maintenance
Signs it is near the end:
- Shingles are brittle, curling or cracked.
- Shingles keep blowing off in wind.
- Leaks or ceiling stains return after repairs.
- Bare patches or sagging show along the roof.
- Look at the roof from the ground, with binoculars if you have them, for missing, curled or cracked shingles.
- Check ceilings and the attic for stains, damp spots or daylight.
- Keep gutters clear so water can drain off the roof edge.
- After a storm, look from the ground for new damage.
- Leave roof work to a roofer; falls are the main risk.
- FurnaceFall
The furnace runs but the house stays cold, which is usually a clogged filter, a thermostat setting, or an ignition fault.
- Heat pumpFall
The heat pump runs but the house stays cold, which is usually thermostat settings, a clogged filter, or an iced-over outdoor unit.
- Washer
Water is left in the drum after the cycle, which is usually a clogged pump filter or a kinked drain hose.
- Fridge
The fridge section is warm or warming. The cause depends on whether the freezer is still cold, and the first fix is often free.
- Washer
The drum fills and washes but won't spin, which is usually an unbalanced load, the lid switch, or a drain problem.
Diagnose your roof in seconds, for free
No account, no phone number. Fixology’s AI reads your photo and tells you what’s likely wrong, how worried to be, and whether it’s a DIY fix.
Snap one of these:
- the ceiling or wall stain, with something for scale
- the roof area above it, taken from the ground
- icicles or ice along the roof edge
- the attic underside near the leak, if you can safely get there
Add a note or more photos next. Nobody calls you.
Fixology helps you understand your home — it isn't a substitute for a licensed pro on serious gas, electrical, or structural work.