Short answer
If your skylight drips, first check whether it is a leak or condensation. Drops all over the inside of the glass on a cold or humid day are condensation: run the bathroom fan and a dehumidifier. Drips only when it rains, usually at a corner or the frame, are a leak. Put a towel and a bucket under it, take photos and have a roofer reseal the flashing.
Safety first
Do not climb on the roof to caulk the skylight, and never step on a skylight: the glass or plastic is not made to hold a person.
What to do when your skylight drips
1Drips fall around the skylight
Water drips from the frame or runs down the shaft walls. First find out if it is rain getting in or moisture from inside.
Read all the steps
- Drips fall around the skylight. Water drips from the frame or runs down the shaft walls. First find out if it is rain getting in or moisture from inside.
- Fogged glass on a cold day? Condensation. Warm, damp air from showers or cooking hits the cold glass and drips. Run the fan, crack a window, use a dehumidifier.
- Drips only when it rains? It is a leak. Rain usually gets in at a corner, through worn seals or loose flashing (the metal around the frame). Put a towel and a bucket under it.
- Note the spot and take photos. Write down where it drips and when. Photos of the stain and the drips help the roofer find the entry point faster.
- Stay off the roof: a roofer reseals it. A roofer resets the flashing and the seals, or replaces an old skylight. Never step on a skylight.
- Leaks when it rains? Call a roofer Especially if: it drips whenever it rains.
Roofers near you
Share your location and we will show the nearest ones with their phone number.
Or pick your city:
Why skylights leak
- The flashing, the metal around the frame, is bent, rusted or was installed wrong.
- Leaves pile up on the uphill side and hold water against the seal.
- The seals between the glass and the frame wore out with age and sun.
- The glass cracked from hail or a falling branch.
- Shingles around the skylight are missing or damaged.
What not to do
When to call a roofer
- It drips whenever it rains.
- The glass is cracked, or foggy between the two panes.
- The drywall around the shaft is stained, soft or moldy.
- The skylight is old and has leaked before.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my skylight is leaking or has condensation?
Condensation shows up as drops all over the inside of the glass on a cold or humid day, even with no rain. A leak drips only when it rains, usually from a corner or the frame.
Can a leaking skylight be repaired, or does it need replacing?
Many leaks are fixed by resealing or replacing the flashing around it. If the skylight is old, the glass is cracked or the seals failed, a roofer may recommend a new one, usually with new flashing.
Why does my skylight leak only in heavy rain?
Heavy or wind-driven rain pushes water past worn seals or loose flashing that handle light rain fine. Leaves piled on the uphill side make it worse.
How do I stop condensation on my skylight?
Lower the humidity: run the bathroom and kitchen fans longer, use a dehumidifier and keep the air moving. Double-pane glass helps too.
Who fixes a leaking skylight?
A roofer. The leak is almost always in the flashing or the seal between the skylight and the roof, and that takes roof work.