Who to Call for a Roof Leak: Roofer or Plumber?

Updated 2026-10-24 · Sources checked

"Wasn’t sure if it needed to be a roofing company or a water repair company (?) and no one is open today."

That was one commenter in a roofing thread.

The right call depends on where the water comes from. If it comes through the roof, a professional roofing contractor should do the closer assessment and the repairs¹. If a pipe froze or burst, call a plumber². If you can't tell yet, a short look from inside the house will tell you which.

Quick answer:

Note where the stain is, whether it showed up with rain, and whether a pipe runs near it.
Check the attic and nearby pipes for the source, and photograph the damage before any temporary fix³.
Water coming in: put a bucket under it and move belongings out of the way.
Check your deductible⁴ before you decide whether to call your insurer, and ask any contractor for a written proposal.

On this page

How do you tell a roof leak from a pipe leak?
What to do while you wait
In what order should you make the calls?
What to get in writing from any contractor
Checklist before you call
Quick questions

You can do all of this today from inside the house and the ground, with a flashlight and your phone.

How do you tell a roof leak from a pipe leak?

You can't always tell from the stain alone, so start with when and where it shows. Write down whether it appeared during or after rain, which room it is in, and whether a pipe, a water heater or an air conditioner sits nearby.

One commenter gave this warning: "The water may be collecting where you see this water damage, but can be coming from a completely different area." Treat the stain as a clue to where to look, not as the answer.

If you can reach the attic safely, look at the underside of the roof and the insulation above the stain. One homeowner who checked wrote, "I went into my attic and I don’t see any wet spots on the ceiling in there." A dry look doesn't settle the question either way. If you still can't tell, call a roofer or a plumber, say exactly what you saw, and ask which one they think it is.

Leave the roof itself to a professional: closer assessment and repairs of a roof system belong to a professional roofing contractor¹.

What to do while you wait

Contain the water, protect your belongings and document the damage before anything gets fixed. In Texas, take pictures or videos before making repairs, keep damaged items until the adjuster has seen them, and make temporary repairs to protect the house and belongings³. Photos come before the fix because a repair can cover what a roofer needs to see. Keep the receipts for anything you buy.

Water coming in now: set a bucket or tub under it, move furniture and electronics away, and lay towels around the base.
Water from a pipe or appliance: turn the water off at the main valve or at the valves under your sinks and near appliances³ to stop the leak.
Wet things: dry water-damaged areas and items within 24–48 hours to prevent mold growth⁵.
No one is open today: keep emptying the bucket, make temporary fixes only, and look again from the ground and the attic after the next rain.

In what order should you make the calls?

Find the source, get prepared, then call the appropriate trade to repair it.

Find where the water comes from. Check the attic and nearby pipes, protect the house as above, and take your photos.
Get prepared. Read your policy⁴ to see what your responsibilities are, and find your deductible, the amount you pay before the insurer pays anything. If the damage costs less than the deductible, filing a claim probably isn't worth it⁴.
Call the trade that matches what you found. That is a roofer for a roof, a plumber for a pipe. If you may file a claim, in North Carolina the advice is to call your insurance agent or company before signing a contract or paying for repairs⁶.
Get a written proposal, then hold the permanent work. If a claim is open, in North Carolina permanent repairs wait until the insurer has inspected and you have agreed on the cost⁷.

What if the roofer says the whole roof needs replacing? How to tell whether a roof needs repair or replacement.

What to get in writing from any contractor

Insist on a written proposal with a complete description of the work, start and completion dates, and payment procedures⁸.

Put these questions to each contractor who comes:

How did you find where the water gets in?
What will you repair now, and what are you leaving alone?
Is the temporary fix part of the price or extra?
What are the start and finish dates, and when do I pay?

If a contractor wants a signature on the spot, the checklist below writes a message you can send, from your answers.

Want a fuller list of questions for the roofer who comes out? Questions to ask a roofer before you hire one.

Checklist before you call

Have these within reach before you dial:

Where the stain is, when it appeared and whether it followed rain.
Your photos and a list of what got wet or damaged.
Your policy and your deductible figure.
What you saw in the attic, and whether a pipe is nearby.
The four questions above, written down.

Wondering if a leak is worth an insurance claim? What decides if insurance pays for roof leaks.

Before you sign: what to get in writing

Answer a few quick questions. You'll get a list of what to ask for in writing, what to do if anyone pushes you, and a message you can send. Nothing you choose leaves this page.

Your browser isn't running scripts, so here is the general list. It fits most roof jobs.Ask for these in writingTick each one when you have it in writing. You can print this list.

The work and the materials. A written estimate should describe the work to be done and the materials, with the completion date and the price.^11,12

Start and completion dates.^12,13

The total price and a breakdown of the costs, not just one number.¹⁴

The payment schedule: what you pay at each stage. Keep the final payment until the work is done.^15,11

A price per unit for hidden damage, for example per sheet of decking, and your signed change order before any extra. Rotted decking found mid-job is the kind of surprise a change order covers. In California and Maine, a change to the contract price must go on a written change order.^16,15,17

Who pulls the building permit. A contract should say who does it.¹⁵

Proof of license and insurance, including liability and workers' compensation certificates. Confirm the license with your state or county government.^11,13

The warranty details, and what would void the warranty.^14,13

Every promise made out loud, including what the roofer will and will not do.¹⁸

Repair or replacement?

Ask every roofer to quote the same job and to show you a photo of each problem they list. If one quotes a repair and another a replacement, ask each to explain why in writing.

Your quotes

Ask for written estimates from at least 3 roofers, each with the same items.¹²

If they push

If anyone pushes you to sign today, you can wait. Never give in to high-pressure sales tactics.²⁰

If a roofer won't put this in writing, that is an answer too: weigh it against the bids that do.

Before you sign

Never sign a contract that has blank spaces.¹⁹

Quick questions

Does insurance pay for a leaky roof?

Your policy and the cause of the leak decide that. Reading the policy⁴ and checking the deductible is how you find out where you stand.

What happens if a roof leak is left untreated?

The water keeps soaking whatever it touches, causing more damage. In California, a homeowners policy may not cover further damage if you did not take reasonable steps to secure the property⁹. Catching the water and covering the area is the part that is in your hands.

What does it cost to fix a leaking roof?

The price depends on what is wrong with your roof, which only a visit can show. Two written proposals that describe the work the same way let you compare like with like.

Do I need a water damage company too?

Stopping the leak and drying out the room are different jobs. Ask whoever you call whether they also handle drying, and if not, who does. Wet areas should dry within 24–48 hours⁵.

Can my insurer choose the contractor for me?

In Washington, homeowners may select their own contractor to complete the work on their home¹⁰. Wherever you live, ask your insurer whether you pick the contractor.

Sources

1. National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), Roof Repairs After a Storm

2. University of Illinois Extension, Water Pipes

3. Texas Department of Insurance, When are water damage and mold covered by insurance?

4. Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), How to file a homeowners claim

5. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home

6. North Carolina Department of Insurance, Scammers will try to rip you off; don't let them

7. North Carolina Department of Insurance, Claims and Adjuster Information

8. National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), Selecting a Contractor

9. California Department of Insurance, Residential Property Claims Guide

10. Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner, Filing a homeowner insurance claim

Also cited by the Before you sign tool on this page:

11. FTC: How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam

12. Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS): Tips for Hiring a Roofing Contractor

13. NRCA: Selecting a Contractor

14. North Carolina Department of Insurance: Avoiding predatory roofing scams

15. California Contractors State License Board (CSLB): Terms of Agreement: A Consumer Guide to Home Improvement Contracts

16. Oklahoma Insurance Department (Strengthen Oklahoma Homes program): Change Order Information (template)

17. Maine Office of the Attorney General: Home Construction and Repair

18. California Contractors State License Board (Department of Consumer Affairs): Tips for Hiring a Roofing Contractor

19. Texas Department of Insurance (TDI): Hail damage to your home or car? What to do next.

20. IBHS (Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety): Is It Hail Damage?

21. New York State Attorney General: Contractors and home maintenance

22. Federal Trade Commission: How To Avoid Scams After Weather Emergencies and Natural Disasters

23. California Contractors State License Board (CSLB): What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor

24. North Dakota Insurance Department: Beware of contractor scams and fraud following recent storms

25. Texas Department of Insurance: Do you know the signs of a contracting scam?

26. North Carolina Department of Insurance: Prepare your home, be wary of roofing scams as Hurricane Dorian approaches the East Coast

27. Texas Department of Insurance: Will my premium go up if I file a claim?

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