Project education
Is Your Skylight Leaking, or Is It Condensation?
Water dripping near a skylight looks like a leak. Sometimes it is. Other times warm, moist indoor air is meeting cold glass and condensing.
Check the weather
Leaks follow rain. Condensation tends to show on cold days, often in the morning, and can appear when it has not rained at all.
Look at where the water forms
Condensation usually beads evenly across the glass and frame. A leak more often shows at one corner, along one side or as a stain on the shaft walls around the skylight.
Think about indoor moisture
Bathrooms, kitchens and rooms with many plants add moisture. Running an exhaust fan or opening a door can reduce condensation.
Signs it is a leak
Stains that grow after storms, peeling paint on the shaft, or damp wood seen from the attic point toward water from outside. The flashing around the skylight or the skylight seal may be involved.
Next step
Note when the water appears and take photos, then send them to us with your question.