Roof leaking?

A stain or drip inside usually means water is getting under the roofing, often some distance from where it shows. Catch the water, protect your things and photograph it first. Then leave the fix to a roofer, because falls from roofs are the main danger.

Not sure which one it is? Snap your roof and we’ll narrow it down.

Is it winter, with ice along the roof edge?

Meltwater backing up under the shingles can cause the leak. Ice dams on your roof

Likely causes

  1. Damaged or missing shingles

    Most commonCall a pro

    A stain appears after rain, and from the ground you can see bare patches, curled or cracked shingles. See missing shingles.

    Part: about $975 (asphalt shingle repair, average)

  2. Failed flashing at chimneys, walls and valleys

    CommonCall a pro

    The stain is near a chimney, where the roof meets a wall, or along a valley. The metal strips there may look lifted, rusted or gapped.

    Part: $200–500 (flashing repair)

  3. Cracked rubber boot around a vent pipe

    CommonCall a pro

    Water drips near a plumbing vent pipe, or the rubber collar around it looks cracked or split.

  4. Ice dams

    CommonCall a pro

    Leaks show up in winter with thick icicles or ice along the roof edge, often near outside walls. See ice dams.

  5. Clogged gutters backing water under the roof edge

    Less commonModerate DIY

    Gutters overflow or hold standing water, and the stain is near an outside wall below the roof edge.

  6. Attic condensation or frost melting in winter

    Less commonCall a pro

    It looks like a leak but is a ventilation problem: a damp or frosty attic underside in cold weather, dripping as it warms, with no outside damage to find.

Quick checks

Stay off the roof, especially when it is wet, icy, steep or more than one story: falls are the main risk. If you use a ladder, set it on firm footing, keep three points of contact and don't over-reach. Keep ladders and roof rakes away from the service wires. If water is near a light fixture or outlet, switch off that circuit at the breaker.

  1. Catch the water in a bucket or tub and move furniture and belongings out of the way.
  2. Photograph the stain or drip, with something beside it for scale.
  3. From the ground, look at the roof above the stain for missing or lifted shingles, and around chimneys and vent pipes.
  4. If you can safely reach the attic, look for wet insulation, damp wood or daylight near the stain.
  5. Check whether gutters above the stain are overflowing or full of debris.
  6. A ceiling that is sagging or holding water needs a pro quickly. Keep people and belongings out from under it.
Sharpen the read

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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.

When to call a pro

Call a roofer for any leak you can't trace to a simple cause from the ground, and quickly if a ceiling is sagging or holding water. Also call if water is near wiring or fixtures. For the bigger picture, see the roof guide.

Typical cost: HomeAdvisor puts roof leak repair at $360–1,550. Roof repair overall averages $1,174 ($395–1,968), an asphalt shingle repair averages $975, and flashing repair runs $200–500. Interior water damage, insulation and ventilation work are not priced here.

Sources: HomeAdvisor: How much does roof repair cost? (updated June 19, 2026)

After a scan, Fixology can also help you find pros near you.

Related problems

  • Missing roof shingles?

    Roof

    Bare patches, shingle pieces in the yard or a gap in the roof after wind or a storm.

  • Ice dams on your roof?

    Roof

    Thick ice and icicles along the roof edge in winter, sometimes with stains on ceilings near outside walls.

  • Furnace won't heat?

    FurnaceFall

    The furnace runs but the house stays cold, which is usually a clogged filter, a thermostat setting, or an ignition fault.

  • Heat pump not heating?

    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.

Fixology helps you understand your home — it isn't a substitute for a licensed pro on serious gas, electrical, or structural work.