A good day could easily turn into a horror story once you discover that an invisible enemy is slowly destroying your house. Water is essential to our lives, but it can also destroy our property and belongings if it is in a place where it should not be. The ceiling is among those places. What makes it worse is that it could even go beyond that area. It could affect other parts of your home.  Once you realize that you have a problem, take a deep breath. Face the challenge head-on.

Looking for signs

The first thing you do is investigate the situation. Find out how huge the damage is. What parts of the house did it affect? Look for any discoloration on the ceiling and drywall, bubbles forming, peeling walls, mold, and dripping water. 

Finding the source

Knowing all the signs of water damage can help you determine what the cause of the leaky ceiling is. Determining this may be hard. It may require the services of a professional. All the things you see are just a small percentage of the problem. But there are common sources of leaks that you can check on your own. 

• Roof

If the leaky ceiling is directly below the attic, there is a high possibility that the problem is the roof because plumbing systems rarely run through an attic. Check the roof for holes. If you have roof shingles, check them for holes. Loose or moldy shingles are also bad signs.

• Plumbing

One of the most common sources of leaks is the plumbing. This case is possible if the ceiling is below a bathroom, kitchen, appliances connected to water, or the location of plumbing pipes.

• Gutters

Gutters help properly drain the water away from your house. If the gutters are clogged, water cannot flow freely. Thus, it will look for alternative ways causing water to enter your home.

Solving the problem

Dealing with a leaky ceiling is not an easy task. Knowing what causes it can just give you an insight as to the extent of damage, and help you reduce the water damage inside your house. Professionals specializing in water damage and restoration can help you solve the problem. But if you cannot get professional service immediately, try to reduce the affected area. 

• Bucket

A bucket will prevent the water from damaging your floor. Put it directly below the leak so it can catch the water. Do not forget to check the water level regularly to avoid overflowing.

• Fan

Even though you cannot stop water from dripping on your wall, you can still lessen the damage it causes. Use a fan to ventilate the area to prevent molds from growing in the walls of your house.

Dry Source Property Restoration provides professional restoration services that will surely give you peace of mind. So if you have a water damage problem because of a leaky ceiling, contact us now. We are always ready to respond to a homeowner’s emergency needs.