One small but effective change is to keep drains and outlets on the roof completely clear. Flat roofs often rely on a few key points where water is supposed to exit. Leaves, plastic bags, dirt or even small toys can block these drains, causing water to pool around them. Over time, standing water finds weak spots and seeps in.
Regularly removing debris, especially after storms or leaf fall, helps rainwater flow the way it was designed to. If you notice low areas where water always collects, you can speak to a roofer about adding slight tapering or extra drains to guide water away.
Even placing simple leaf guards over drain inlets can make a difference. The idea isn’t to fight physics; flat roofs will never be perfect. But by making sure water has easy paths to escape, you reduce how long it stays on the surface and how hard it has to work to find its own way down.