Unfortunately, water leaking from the ceiling isn't always as obvious as a new waterfall feature in your family room. In many cases, the clues that you have a problem are more subtle—like a dark spot that grows on your ceiling, bubbling paint or a continual drip of water.
If you see paint bubbling, drywall swelling, or brown rings forming in your ceiling, then you know there's a leak you need to repair. However, before anything gets fixed, you first need to prevent the water from spreading and causing further damage.
Do you see yellow, brown, or faint stains on your ceiling and walls? It's likely due to a leaky roof. These water spots are often located in the center of the room, but may be in the corners or along an exterior wall.
If you see bubbling paint, mold growth or any other signs of water damage to your ceiling, then you must call experts right away. Prolonging repairs of wet ceilings is simply calling for trouble.
As noted above, water damage will usually leave walls soft to the touch, or otherwise warped, buckled, and crumbled. It also tends to cause a musty smell and dark brown or yellow-tinted stains, lines, or rings in both ceilings and walls.
Be aware that if the leak is significant, there is a chance that a section of the ceiling could collapse and this will cause significant damage.
One of the easiest ways to know if you have water damage on the ceiling is to look for stains or discoloration. Usually, these will look like spots and can be any shape or size. Typically, they are brown, copper, yellow, or rusty colored.
This is an instance when you'll want to get to the root of the problem, not just address the cosmetic damage. If left unresolved, water leaking from the ceiling can result in structural damage, mold, electrical issues or more.
If your roof or ceiling leaks due to a covered peril, the associated damage should be covered under your homeowners insurance policy. Most home insurance policies have an open perils claims basis, which means unless coverage is specifically excluded, then it is included.
Since leaks only occur while it's raining, if it hasn't rained in quite some time, then it's probably not a roof leak. If a leak does occur during or after a rain, the leak may still not be where you see the water damage. Remember, water flows to the lowest point.
Inspect the roof itself, looking for raised, missing or damaged shingles. You should also inspect the joints around the roof and the flashing around pipes and vents for a tight seal. Plumbing leaks can cause ceiling leaks in areas beside or below them. If the dampness doesn't dry out, suspect a leaky pipe.
Water-damaged ceilings are high-priority issues that lead to rot, mold and a weaker house frame. Leaks must be fixed, and water-damaged ceilings repaired, as soon as possible.
At worst, water may be trickling slowly from pipe fittings within a wall and go unnoticed until it causes extensive damage. Even if the water meter test indicates that you don't currently have a leak, one could develop at any point in the future, so it's a good idea to keep an eye out for: Wall discoloration.
If you see water spots on the ceiling with no visible leakage, consider other sources that might be a source of the moisture. Your bathtub or other plumbing apparatus could be causing a leak, for example. Or your attic could be insufficiently insulated, causing condensation to form from the moist air there.
Why a plumber should fix your dripping wet wall or ceiling. If your wall or ceiling is dripping with water, you'll have to get an expert out to assess the problem as soon as possible. Not only is this incredibly inconvenient, but the resulting damp damage could end up costing you a small fortune and cause safety risks.
It's essential to keep an eye on your roof and be vigilant for any leaks that may occur. Depending on your roof type, a leak can become visible immediately to several months after it starts. A small leak can quickly become a big problem, and the longer you wait, the more expensive it will be.
One of the most common causes of ceiling leaks stems from plumbing. Water from inside your pipes can leak due to rusty or worn material. And, in adverse temperatures, pipes can 'sweat' or even burst, causing water to escape. Your leaky ceiling may even be down to a roof leak.
Your drywall can be checked for moisture in a couple of ways. The first thing you can do is use a non-penetrating moisture meter. You can also pry off the baseboards and poke holes in the drywall with a screwdriver. If it's soft and the screwdriver goes in easily, then the drywall is wet.
Water Spots and Stains
Usually, dark water stains are caused by a slow leak that drips down your ceiling and walls over time. Here are a few signs of water damage that accompany water spots as a result of a roof leak: Discolored spots on your ceilings and walls. Darkened ceiling paint.
The time it takes for a ceiling to dry out after a leak also depends on various factors such as the extent of the leak, the type of ceiling material, and the humidity levels in the room. In general, it can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for a ceiling to dry out completely.
Ceiling leaks can already be a cause of stress and danger. They can cause ceiling and attic damage, the growth of dangerous molds and mildews, structural instability, and inefficient energy use that may result in higher utility bills.
The study also found that there were other health conditions that mold from a water-damaged ceiling may cause, but there was insufficient evidence to release anything conclusive. Some evidence suggested that exposure to mold can cause respiratory illness in otherwise healthy children.
Any water leak carries the risk of mold growth, but that doesn't necessarily mean that mold growth is certain. The chance of mold depends on many factors, such as the severity of water damage, how quickly it was cleaned up and dried, and the extent of surfaces affected.