Winter is on the way. If you haven't had your roof inspected for leaks, now's a good time to take care of that. If you wait until winter, you could be forced to deal with an emergency roof repair. Not only that, you could end up with water inside your home, which is something you want to avoid. You might not think you have any roofing issues that need to be taken care of, but that might not be the case. Just because you don't have any missing shingles, doesn't mean your roof won't leak this winter. There are actually several other problems that can cause your roof to leak.

Take a look at the list below. Here are four problems that could lead to winter roof leaks. To avoid the risk, have your roof inspected before winter arrives. Your roofing contractor can take care of the repairs that might be necessary as a result of the problems listed below. 

Damaged or Missing Roof Flashing

Your roof is protected by more than just the shingles. It's also protected by a system of metal flashing strips. Those are the strips that are installed along all the transitions on your roof. Not sure what the transitions are? They're the seams between sections of the roof. The flashing strips prevent water from getting down between the seams. If the flashing is missing or damaged, your roof will leak. During an inspection, your roofing contractor will assess the condition of your flashing. Taking care of those repairs will help to keep your home dry this winter. 

Weather-Beaten or Worn Out Soffit

If you have soffit installed on your home, it's a good idea to inspect that before winter arrives. Problems with your soffit can lead to problems with your roof this winter. In fact, if the soffit is weather-beaten or worn out, you're at an increased risk for roof leaks. If you can see areas where your roof is exposed through weather-beaten or worn out soffit, you need to take care of repairs right away. 

Improperly Installed Satellite Dishes

If you have satellite dishes installed on your roof, there's a chance that the area around the base could lead to roof leaks. You might not realize this, but if your satellite dishes weren't installed properly, the technician could have damaged your roof. This can happen when the wrong size screws are used to fasten the dish to the roof. Unfortunately, the holes that are left can lead to leaks. Before you're left to deal with leaks this winter, have your roofing contractor come out to inspect the installation. You may need to have the holes repaired in your roof. 

For more information about roofing repairs, contact a local roofing company.