Water stains on your ceiling are an important sign that you have a water leakage somewhere in your attic. Any sign of water leakage sets an environment that can cause mold to grow, especially when the problem is ignored. Once mold forms, it can lead to rotting which will cause structural issues in your house. When you get to that point, you will have an expensive repair job when compared to fixing the water leakage when you first noticed it.
What can cause ceiling water stains?
- Leaking pipes
Water stains can be caused by plumbing leaks in the bathroom located on the upper level of the house. This will require immediate response once identified.
- Attic condensation
When you have poor ventilation on your attic, excess moisture that is trapped within the attic can cause water to trickle down to the ceiling. If you identify that the attic is the cause of the ceiling water stain, you will potentially have a mold problem. To resolve the issue, you should hire a roofing contractor to ensure your repair is done correctly.
- Caulking and grout issues
If you have worn out caulking or grout around your toilet, shower, or tub, a pool of water can form which can drain into the ceiling.
- Roofing issues
Faulty flashing or missing shingles can lead to a leak in the roof during the winter season. Always check your roof before the winter season hits and make any roof repair if necessary.
The effects of a ceiling water stain
The formation of mildew and mold can cause serious health issues, especially if a family member is sensitive to some conditions like rhinitis, asthma and inflammation. Once mold spores are produced, they can cause allergies and other serious health concerns.
- High utility bills
Once water gets into your insulation area, the fibreglass or cellulose insulation will be saturated and drying will take a long time. If you ignore making any roof repair that can stop the leak, you will eventually deplete the insulation and controlling the internal temperature of the house will be expensive. It will be expensive to cool the house during the summer season and warm the house in the winter season.
- Fire hazard
If you leave the electric wiring in your attic exposed to water that often finds its way to tight spaces, it is easy to cause shorted wires.