Even if you made it through the deluge of recent rains, your roof may not have.

From small, irritating leaks to major disasters, a leaky roof can be a homeowner's nightmare - especially if it is discovered during a week of heavy rain like what we recently received.

But don't sweat it; a leak doesn't necessarily mean you need a new roof.

The main places where water penetrates the roof are at the junctions of the roof, plumbing vents, chimneys, skylights and heating vents, along with loose nails.

First, homeowners who discover a leak should just sit tight until the rain passes; there's no use trying to fix a leak until the roof is dry.

Jason Williams, owner of J. Williams Roofing, said to be careful trying to fix anything yourself. But in some situations, it can be done.

"If it is too steep you definitely want to call a roofer; call until you find someone," said the 15-year business owner. "If it is a flat roof per se, get you some caulk and get up there and seal around your vents and around your chimney. You can do pretty much all that yourself if you are a homeowner."

Williams uses Lexel and NP1 caulking sealant. "It costs a little more (per) tube, but it lasts," he said.

But at Builders First Source in Gainesville, a DAP product is the way they go.

"We keep a DAP product to fix minor roof leaks, and it is a water-tight asphalt sealant," said manager Baylor Coffman. "It could be damage from anything."

Once you have repaired your roof yourself or called a roofer out, there are ways to keep your roof in good shape.

"Make sure there are no exposed nails and make sure you always change those plumbing stack vents out," Williams said. "Even when you put a new roof on, you want to change those vents out about every 10 years."

Williams added that getting your roof serviced every four to five years is key.

"You want to get up on your roof and make sure that around your heat vents are sealed ... your fireplace and chimney. Even though you do flashing you still seal around it and that sealant breaks free every four or five years."

Jason Stancil, a longtime employee of Williams, added that fall is a time to be vigilant about keeping leaves off your roof.

"When you see valleys (on the roof) and there are leaves in the valleys, they will get wet and cause the moisture to get into the shingle," Stancil said.

Most importantly, even though a service that's recommended every five years may sound expensive, it is much cheaper that repairing the entire roof or a leak.

"It will run you about $150-175," Williams said. "But that will save you in the long haul because if you get a leak, it might cost $500 to $1,000; it could cost you inside damage, rotten wood."