Who knew there were so many types of water damage that could cause damage to your ceiling? We did. Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses have substantial water damage from personal accidents, broken pipes, and natural disasters.
So here’s a rundown of everything you need to know about water damage ceiling, prevention tips, and advice to streamline your water damage cleanup and restoration.
What Are the Common Reasons for Water Damage to Your Ceiling?
We’ve helped homeowners and business owners restore their properties with structural drying, sewage cleanup, and water extraction. These are the most common causes of ceiling water damage:
Extreme Weather Conditions
Heavy rains, hurricanes, and strong winds can damage your roof and ceiling.
When your commercial or residential establishment is impacted by severe weather, don’t put your family’s safety at risk. Instead, contact a full-service storm damage restoration company that cares about your health and well-being.
Clogged Gutters
As a good rule of thumb, it’s best to clean your gutters every six months. However, if your home is located near multiple trees or in an area subject to torrential storms, you should clean them more often.
The accumulation of leaves, twigs, and dirt creates grime and clogs your gutters, causing water to seep through the walls and roof of your home and damage the ceilings.
AC Unit
Overflowing drain pans or clogged drain pipes can cause damage to your roof and ceilings. Not to mention, condensation from your AC unit can create additional water damage.
Leaky Pipes
If a pipeline above your ceiling malfunctions, you can have soggy ceilings and soaked furniture. Faulty plumbing from a sink, tub, or washing machine, will cause significant damage to your home.
Sprinkler Systems
Sprinklers have absolutely no mercy. Not only do they trigger at the slightest sign of fire, but domestic fire sprinklers are set to run for 10 minutes! You can imagine that will saturate the ceiling and all surrounding areas.
What Are the Signs of Ceiling Water Damage?
Now that we know the top causes of ceiling damage, let’s talk about the top visible signs of ceiling water damage. Thankfully, ceiling leaks are easy to spot. Here’s what you need to keep an eye out for:
Water Leaks From the Ceiling
Water dripping from your ceiling should always be considered a significant issue. Water has seeped through the flooring (or attic space) above and saturated the drywall enough to cause a steady drip.
Sagging Ceiling
Does your ceiling have a bubble? A bulge is one of the more prominent (and gross) signs of ceiling water damage.
Here’s how it happens:
- Water saturates ceiling material (drywall, plaster, or drop tile)
- The weight of the water causes the ceiling to soften
- Weakened material will droop
Peeling Paint or Cracked Plaster
This, by far, is the most common sign of water damage. When wet, plaster shrinks and expands, which causes paint to peel and plaster to crack.
Yellowish-Brown Water Spots
Ever seen a ceiling stain? They’re not pretty. Brownish-yellow spots on your ceiling indicate minimal water damage (because it has time to dry). Continuous leaks will eventually cause the eyesore to expand.
How to Deal With Ceiling Stains?
Discoloration of your ceiling ruins your home’s aesthetic and can be smelly. Depending on the size and source of the water damage, you can either fix the problem yourself or hire a professional.
Do It Yourself (DIY)
We love DIY projects as much as anyone else. But DIY repairs to fix water damage in your home or business should be left to the professionals, especially if the damage is severe.
Painting over water-stained ceilings is just a bandaid and won’t do anything to fix or prevent water damage from reoccurring.
You can, however, reapply caulking to prevent water from seeping to below surfaces. The most common areas to do this are the bases of bathtubs and toilets.
Hire a Professional
If you have water damage from a storm, burst pipe, or cracked water heater, contact a water removal company to respond immediately. A reputable water damage restoration company will use high-quality tools and equipment to remove water damage and prevent issues in the future. They’ll recommend the appropriate services to extract the water, prevent mold growth, and avoid ceiling water damage in the future.
Related Article: 7 Reasons To Hire Professional Water Damage Restoration Services
Call A Water Damage Restoration Professional
A properly dried structure is a healthy structure. When it comes to a water damage emergency, DRIRITE® can be on-site FAST. Not only do we specialize in structural drying and water damage restoration services, but we guarantee your drying projects won’t have secondary damages. You’ll never have to worry about odors, mold growth, water stains, or a compromised structure.
We’re an honest and upfront company built on the values of integrity, communication, and quality service. Contact DRIRITE® for 24-hour emergency service at (813) 635-0303. It’s Not Just Our Name; It’s Our Guarantee™
Chief Executive Officer
Mike Campbell is a highly experienced professional specializing in structural drying, mold remediation, and environmental consulting. With certifications such as OSHA HAZWOPER, council-certified microbial remediator, and state of Florida licensed mold remediator, he offers tailored solutions to clients at DriRite. With specialized training from the IICRC, Mike is equipped with advanced skills in categories such as applied structural drying, commercial drying, and water damage restoration. This expertise allows him to deliver comprehensive and effective solutions to water-related issues. His dedication to providing exceptional service and expertise makes him a valuable resource in the field.
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