What Are The Causes Of Leaky Ceilings?
A leaky ceiling can be caused by a variety of factors, including structural issues, damage to the roof or plumbing, and poor maintenance. One common cause is a damaged or worn roof, which can allow water to seep through and into the ceiling.
Poorly installed or aging plumbing systems can also lead to leaks that result in water damage to the ceiling. In addition, condensation or moisture buildup in the attic can contribute to ceiling leaks. Regular maintenance, such as inspecting the roof and plumbing systems, cleaning gutters, and ensuring proper ventilation, can help prevent leaks and water damage to the ceiling.
What To Do When Your Ceiling Is Leaking
While preventative maintenance is always a good way to stop things before they start, sometimes leaks still occur. Having a plan of action together for when this happens is key, as a leak that is left alone can lead to much greater problems related to water damage.
We have put together a list of things to do once you spot a leak in your ceiling while you are waiting for your plumber to come out and fix it.
1. Contain The Water And Save Your Belongings
If water is actively dripping from your ceiling, finding a waterproof container to catch dripping water is a must. This may keep the water from damaging your floor or surrounding furniture. To eliminate the risk of splashing, line your buckets or tubs with an old t-shirt or towel.
Additionally, make sure that any furniture or decor is moved out of the path of the water. Water can be extremely damaging, especially to wooden antiques or electronics. If something cannot be moved, then cover it with a tarp or plastic sheeting to at least limit the risk of your belongings getting wet.
If any water makes it to the floor, act fast, as flooring can develop mold or mildew if water soaks into the wood. Warping is another common issue that may occur when water soaks up into your flooring.
Be sure to soak up any water with a mop or old towels. If there is a large pool of water, you can use a wet-dry vacuum to suck up any flooded areas.
2. Find The Source
Once you have any dripping water contained, now is a good time to begin investigating the source of the water leak. If there are no pipes or plumbing overhead, then it is most likely a roof leak. Call a roofer immediately, as a leaky roof could simply be a few bad shingles or something more serious.
If there is a plumbing issue, it is best to turn off the water to whatever pipes are overhead and call a plumber. A professional plumber will be able to assess your pipes, make recommendations, and solve your leak problems.
The longer you wait to get your plumbing fixed, the worse your water damage may get. Regardless of the type of leak, it is important to get it stopped as soon as possible.
Call your insurance company and report the leak in the event that an insurance claim is to be made. Documentation of the event via photos and video may be required. BEFORE initiating repairs, talking to your insurance company is always wise.
3. Dry Out And Repair Your Ceiling
Once the professionals have gotten to the source of the leak and made repairs, it is time to get to work on doing repairs on your ceiling. More than likely, there will be some water damage, but don’t fret; usually, repairing the drywall or ceiling tiles covering your ceiling is not that hard at all.
First, you need to dry out any wet spots as quickly as possible. This may help keep your ceiling from developing mold and limit damage. The easiest way to dry out your ceiling is by using high-volume fans and a dehumidifier. These are typically available to rent from most equipment rental companies.
To use, aim the fans at the affected area, put the dehumidifier underneath the wet area, and make sure to empty regularly. If you use the correct equipment, it should take around a day to dry a water-damaged ceiling.
After you have fully dried out the ceiling, you can begin to make minor repairs. Typically all you need to do is scrub the ceiling with a brush and get to work filling any small gaps or cracks with plaster or drywall mud.
In some cases, you may need to replace parts of your ceiling. If this is the case, you simply cut out the affected area with a box cutter or drywall saw and replace the damaged piece of drywall with a new one.
Mud and tape any joints and then sand them down to make your ceiling smooth. Plaster ceilings need additional work, as you will need to replace the lathe or backing material before applying new layers of plaster.
Finally, once the mud or plaster is dry, simply prime and paint the affected area, feathering the top coat into the old paint. If that doesn't work, then it may be time to put a fresh coat of paint on your ceiling, which will look better anyway at the end of the day.
Who To Call For Ceiling Leak Repairs
While much of this can be done on your own, the actual plumbing repair and some of the ceiling replacement may be overwhelming. More often than not, it is better to simply hire a contractor to do the job right the first time.
Barlow Plumbing is your choice for plumbing issues that you may run into in your home. Furthermore, Barlow Plumbing has the experience and ability to tackle not only tough plumbing issues but also repair structural damage caused by faulty plumbing.
Don’t wait for your leaky ceiling to get worse; contact Barlow Plumbing today!