Leaky roofs are a mess that last a long time. From ruining your bedroom decor to destroying the carpet in your living room, there is no end to the menace they create. Not to mention, if the leak persists for way too long, it could cause permanent damage to the foundations of your walls and roof.
We usually ignore the signs of a leaky ceiling during summers but this drip can prove to be a huge menace during rains and hailstorms. Other signs of a spongy roof that you might have missed include bulges in the ceiling and discoloration in the paint at certain spots. If you see these signs it’s time to take some action and call a nifty plumber.
Here are a few reasons why there might be a leak in your ceiling and the measures you can take to fix it:
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Usually it’s no rocket science when it comes to figuring out the cause of leak in your ceiling. It’s more often than not an affected area of your roof or damage to the bathroom floor exactly above the leak. Check for these problems before you look further.
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Sometimes, you may not find any damage in your roof or the upper bathroom floor; in that case, it could be a cracked or leaky pipe above the ceiling that is causing the leak. Halt the water usage for an hour, check the reading of your water meter before the hour starts and when the time is up. If the reading has changed, it means there is a leak in the pipes. You need to check for leaks in toilets, meter line, hot water tank and hose bibs. Once you figure out the source of the drip, you can fix the pipes yourself in case the leak is minor or call a plumber if you are not sure how. Although, it is always recommended to call a plumber in either case to prevent any damage to your drainage system.
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Other than leaking pipes or damage in the ceiling, old caulking can also cause this problem. A broken shower pane or corrosion of pipes through hard water are other causes of ceiling leaks as well.
It’s important to treat the cause of the leak than the leak itself because you may close up the hole but the problem will arise again during rains. As soon as you see signs of leakage in your ceiling, take the following steps:
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Keep a bucket under the leak. Place a wooden board inside the bucket so that the leaking water gets absorbed and your bucket doesn’t overflow.
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Take a screwdriver and probe the center of the squishy hole with it. The small hole will create a regular flow of water and relieve the pressure off your roof. This prevents the ceiling from collapsing in case of adverse damage.
Immediately contact a good plumbing service to fix the damage or in case you yourself repair it, contact a roofing service for a thorough assessment.
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