How To Spot Water Damage in Your Ceiling

11/15/2019 (Permalink)

It is easy to tell that your floor has water damage when you are standing in an inch of water in your living room, but how often do you check your walls or ceilings for signs of water damage? Pipes within walls and in between floors can leak or burst which can have major consequences if the problem isn’t addressed. Use the tips below to check your walls and ceilings for water damage.

• Discoloration

One of the most obvious signs of water damage is discoloration. A yellow or brown spot on your walls or ceiling could mean that there has been a leak has occurred and need to be fixed. You may also see bubbling, cracking, or peeling paint as an indication that water could be causing some issues in your building.

• Odor

While the water itself does not have an odor- it can cause something that does: mold. Mold can grow in any humid, warm place, so if a leak or spill is left unchecked, mold can definitely begin to grow on your walls and ceilings. Mold and mildew have a distinct musty odor, so if something doesn’t smell quite right, you should double check that you have no water damage or mold in your home or office.

• Sound

Water damage may not always be visible right away, but sometimes you may be able to hear a leak or a gushing pipe when it first begins. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the way your pipes sound when they are working properly; know what it sounds like when water is running due to the washing machine, dishwasher, toilets, sprinkler system, or any other appliance that is connected to your plumbing system. If you hear something different one day, you will want to make sure that there are no issues with your pipes.

• Home is Difficult to Heat

If you keep cranking up the heat in your house, but it just doesn’t seem to warm up, you may have a water damage problem.  Water and moisture can draw heat out of the walls and ceilings in order to evaporate. This means that instead of heating up your rooms, you are just heating up the water that has leaked behind your walls.

If you suspect water damage in your home or business, call SERVPRO of Elk Grove / Laguna at 916-525-1241. We're available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.