Attic Air Leak vs Water Leak Repair

Published on March 21, 2022

It’s easy to confuse a roof leak with an air leak in your attic. In both instances, excessive moisture in your attic can lead to a brown stain forming on your ceiling or wall. But what exactly is the cause? Is it water leaking from your roof, or is it the fault of attic condensation? Simple attic roof leak repair may not be the answer to your problem – your attic may be suffering from inadequate insulation and ventilation. Whatever the case may be, it's important to know what's going on in your attic and respond accordingly. 

Whether it’s due to a roof or air leak, addressing moisture damage as soon as you spot it can save you from financial and health troubles. Excessive water damage can result in a mold outbreak that worsens over time. Water logged attic insulation in Toronto will likely compromise your home’s air quality leading to heating and cooling issues throughout your home. At EcoComfort, our experts in attic ventilation in Toronto can help you pinpoint the problem and navigate how to solve it.

What Is an Attic Air Leak?

When air from your home leaks into an attic with inadequate insulation, this can cause condensation which, in turn, results from excess water vapour or humidity in the air of your home.

During the winter season, condensation on your roof deck forms when warm, moist air in your home makes its way into the attic space. Adequate insulation typically reduces this heat transferring into the space. But with inefficient insulation comes poor attic ventilation in Toronto, trapping the heat and moisture that leaks into the room.

While condensation can freeze, it thaws eventually. This can lead to water damage in your attic and throughout your home as well. If attic roof leak repair doesn’t fix the issue, look for signs of moisture in your attic or check if your attic insulation is damp. If so, you may be dealing with a condensation issue.

Attic condensation can severely impact how efficient your insulation functions. Your home may be colder in the winter and a lot warmer in the summer, which is entirely the opposite of what you want.  Additionally, moisture buildup can lead to a mold outbreak on the insulation itself, compromising its performance and rendering your attic insulation useless. 

What Is an Attic Water Leak?

Water flowing into your attic via your roof is easier to identify than attic air leaks and condensation. Damage to your roof that leads to water leakage is often the result of a natural weather event, melting snow, ice dams or deteriorating roofing materials.

With a roof leak in your attic, you can follow the water’s path from the brown spot it has left on the ceiling to the area where your roof has been breached. Similar to attic condensation, water and moisture buildup in your attic due to a roof leak can significantly reduce your attic’s insulation operation, as the risk of a mold outbreak increases.

Addressing Attic Roof Leaks

Whether it’s an air leak or roof leak, both cases exhibit a need for new attic insulation in your home. Even with attic roof leak repair, your attic insulation’s efficiency will have been jeopardized. Assess the damage and reduce the chances of the issue from occurring again, with an expert attic inspection from EcoComfort. 

Contact EcoComfort now to schedule an attic inspection in the Greater Toronto Area.