You work hard to keep your home looking good. You pick out the perfect paint colors for the walls. You keep the floor spotless, whether it’s hardwood or carpet. But all your effort can go to waste if there’s an ugly, potentially smelly water stain on your ceiling.
If you notice a spot on the ceiling that wasn’t there before, time is of the essence. There’s a bigger issue on the other side of the surface that you can’t see. So you have to address the root cause before you think about repairing or repainting the ceiling. Otherwise, the water damage will keep coming back and you could develop a mold problem.
Common causes of water stains on the ceiling
Water damage can be caused by a number of issues around the home, including:
- Old, corroded pipes that develop pinhole leaks
- Broken pipe – from freezing or blockage
- Overflowing toilet
- Worn-out caulking in shower or tub
- Broken appliance
- A leaky roof
- Clogged gutters
Steps to take when you find a water stain on your ceiling
- Inspect the color and smell of the stain. The quality of the water on the ceiling can give you clues to where it’s coming from.
- Clear and no smell – Most likely from the water supply pipe
- Dark color and bad smell – Possible leak from drain pipe going to sewer line
- Dark color and no smell – Could be rainwater coming in from roof or gutters
- Find the closest or more logical water source. Based on what you gather from step one, look for a leak nearby or above the stained ceiling. In addition to water supply pipes and drains, don’t forget to check appliances that use water such as dishwashers, laundry machines, and air conditioners.
- Look for a pattern for leaks. Another clue can be if the stain gets bigger or water starts dripping after certain events. For example, if there was a heavy rainstorm the day before you noticed the stain, or if it seems to get worse after someone takes a shower in a nearby bathroom.
- Track the flow of water. Water can be tricky and can find its way through the home in a direction you don’t expect. From the center of the stain, see if you can follow the trail of water that can point you in the direction of the leak source. You can try wiping away any excess water and see if and how it flows back to that place.
- In the event of a major leak, locate and turn off the main water supply to prevent flooding.
A water stain on your ceiling can be unsightly and annoying – but it’s also usually the tip of the iceberg. If you can’t quickly find and fix the problem, the best thing to do is call in the professionals to remedy the leak and restore your ceiling back to normal.
At Hawaii Restoration Services, we have the knowledge and tools to handle all types of water damage in your home. Send us a message or call us 24/7 at (808) 468-7978 to schedule service right away.