Your roof is leaking. Water is coming in and you need to act fast. This guide will walk you through exactly what to do in the next 30 minutes to protect your home, your family, and your insurance claim.
Stop reading ahead. Do these first three things right now.
Step 1: Contain the Water
Grab every bucket, pot, and trash can you own. Place them directly under every drip. If water is running along a ceiling beam or light fixture, follow the trail to the lowest drip point and catch it there.
Lay down towels or old blankets around the containers to absorb splash. If you have a wet/dry shop vac, get it plugged in and ready. You’ll need it.
If water is pooling on a flat ceiling and creating a visible bulge, poke a small hole in the center of the bulge with a screwdriver. We know that sounds wrong. But a controlled drain into a bucket beats 40 pounds of water crashing through your drywall all at once. That ceiling is coming down either way. You’re choosing how.
Step 2: Protect Your Belongings
Move furniture, electronics, and anything valuable away from the leak area. Throw plastic sheeting or garbage bags over anything you can’t move. Couches, mattresses, and rugs soak up water fast and become breeding grounds for mold within 24-48 hours.
Pull out area rugs entirely if you can. Hardwood floors under standing water will start cupping in as little as a few hours.
If the leak is near an electrical outlet, switch, or light fixture, go to your breaker panel and kill power to that room. Water and electricity will kill you. The dark room is an inconvenience. The alternative is not.
If you need help right now, call Frontline GC at (844) 766-3748. We handle emergency roof leaks across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Tennessee, and we’ll walk you through it even before we send a crew.
Step 3: Find the Source (If You Can Do It Safely)
Most active roof leaks during a storm are coming from one of five places:
- Missing or damaged shingles blown off by wind
- Flashing failure around chimneys, vents, or skylights
- Ice dam backup forcing water under shingles (common in IL and IN winters)
- Clogged gutters causing water to pool and seep under the roof edge
- Valley damage where two roof slopes meet
If the rain has stopped and you can safely see the roof from ground level, walk the perimeter and look for obvious damage. Missing shingles, bent flashing, or debris impact marks.
Do not get on a wet roof. We’ve been doing this for years, and even we don’t walk wet roofs without safety gear. A fall from a single-story roof can break your back. It’s not worth it.
What NOT to Do
Do not attempt a permanent repair from inside your attic. Spraying foam sealant or caulk at an active leak from underneath traps moisture between your roof deck and insulation. That moisture turns into mold and rot you won’t see for months.
Do not tarp your roof alone in a storm. Every spring across the Midwest, emergency rooms see homeowners who went up on a wet roof during wind. Two-person minimum, dry conditions only, safety harness required.
Do not ignore a “small” leak. A drip that fits in a coffee cup today was caused by damage that’s been getting worse for weeks. The water you see is the last stop on a path that may have already soaked your insulation, decking, and framing.
When to Call a Professional vs. Wait
Call a roofer immediately if:
- Water is coming in fast or from multiple spots
- You see sagging or buckling in your ceiling
- The leak is near electrical wiring
- Your roof is older than 15 years
- Hail or severe wind caused the damage
You can wait 24-48 hours if:
- The drip is slow and contained in a single bucket
- The storm has passed and no more rain is forecast
- You can clearly see a single missing shingle from the ground
Even in a “wait” scenario, call to schedule an inspection within the week. Small leaks grow. A $300 repair today is a $5,000 repair in six months.
Call Frontline GC at (844) 766-3748 for a free emergency inspection. We respond to emergency calls across our IL, IN, IA, and TN service areas, often same-day.
How to Document Everything for Insurance
Your insurance adjuster wasn’t standing in your kitchen at 2 a.m. watching water pour in. Your phone was. Document everything right now while it’s happening.
- Take video first. Walk through the affected area and narrate what you see. Show the active leak, the damage to belongings, and any visible ceiling or wall staining.
- Photograph the damage. Get wide shots of each room and close-ups of every stain, drip, and damaged item.
- Save damaged materials. Don’t throw away ruined carpet, drywall, or insulation until your adjuster has seen it or you’ve been told it’s okay.
- Write down the date, time, and weather conditions. Note the storm severity if applicable.
- Keep every receipt. Buckets, tarps, hotel stays, temporary repairs. Your policy likely covers “reasonable mitigation expenses.”
Most homeowner policies in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Tennessee cover sudden storm damage to roofs. They typically don’t cover leaks caused by long-term wear and neglect. That distinction matters, and a good contractor will help you document the difference.
Here’s something most roofers won’t tell you: not every leak justifies a full insurance claim. If the repair costs less than your deductible ($1,000-$2,500 for most Midwest homeowners), filing a claim just creates a record that can raise your premiums. We’ll be honest with you about whether a claim makes sense before you file.
Midwest Weather: Why This Keeps Happening
Living in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, or Tennessee means your roof takes a beating that roofs in milder climates simply don’t face.
Ice dams are the silent killer of Midwest roofs. When heat escapes from your attic, it melts snow on the upper roof. That meltwater runs down and refreezes at the cold eaves, creating a dam that forces water backward under your shingles. We see this constantly from December through March in northern IL, IN, and IA.
Spring severe storms bring hail and straight-line winds that can strip a roof in minutes. The I-74 corridor through central Illinois and Indiana is one of the most hail-prone regions in the country.
Summer humidity in Tennessee and southern Indiana means any moisture trapped by a small leak turns into mold faster than it would up north. A leak that might dry out on its own in January becomes a mold problem in July.
Get Help Now
You’ve contained the water. You’ve protected your belongings. You’ve documented the damage. Now let a professional take it from here.
Call Frontline GC at (844) 766-3748. We’ve handled thousands of emergency roof leaks across IL, IN, IA, and TN. We’ll inspect your roof, give you an honest assessment, and help you navigate the insurance process if a claim makes sense.
You can also request an inspection online or learn more about our roofing services. We respond to emergency calls 7 days a week.
Your roof’s job is to keep water out. When it stops doing that job, you need someone who knows how to fix it fast and fix it right. That’s what we do.