Why would homeowners ignore water stains on their ceiling when it is quite obvious that it is evidence of a water leak somewhere? Many homeowners don’t do this on purpose, but because life isn’t as simple as it seems, it just happens. Most free time is consumed by work and family, leading to home repairs taking up the back burner and often never getting done.

However, water leaks are the one issue in the home that should never be ignored and placed on the back burner. Below you will learn some facts about ceiling water stains, which will hopefully convince you that you should never overlook them again, regardless of what else is going on in your life at the time.

Don’t Simply Pretend You Cannot See the Stain

When there is a water stain on your ceiling, there is a reason for it. The longer that it is ignored, the worse damage that is being caused. Most people become obsessed with the stain once they notice it and will stop at nothing until they are able to determine the cause of the stain and take care of the problem. Of course, there are some people that will simply pretend that the stain doesn’t exist and hope that it disappears on its own, though that is impossible.

Whether you have a limited repair budget that may be freaking you out or you are scared that you will be unable to repair the issue yourself, you should never pretend that the water stain isn’t on the ceiling. By doing this, you may end up with a much larger issue on your hands as well as a more expensive repair to deal with.

But You Aren’t Sure That You Want to Know the Issue

Trust us; you want to know what the problem is. First things first, you need to do some investigating and determine where the leak is coming from and how to do some damage control. A water stain on your home’s ceiling could be a sign of a plumbing leak, though it could also be an indication of a problem with the roof. Neither one of these issues will go away on their own. If it is a water leak, then you will require more than a simple paint job. If there is leaking water that remains untreated, your home’s structural integrity is at risk. In addition, if it goes untreated too long, you may wind up with timber rot.

You May Be Dealing with a Roof Leak

As if a plumbing leak isn’t bad enough, you may actually be dealing with a roof leak—which is even worse. If you have determined that the culprit is not a pluming-related leak, then your next step is to see if your leak is coming from the roof. If the ceiling with the water stain is a top floor, then there is high chance that the problem is roof-related.

Your best bet is to climb up on a ladder and inspect the roof and gutters. You may be shocked at what you find in those gutters, but in any event, you should clear the debris that has accumulated in the gutters. Check for clogged gutters and clear them out yourself or hire someone to do it for you. If your own inspection does not indicate a problem, hire a professional roofing company to perform a more thorough inspection.

The Adverse Effect of Neglect

We have already said that you should never overlook a ceiling water stain, and here is why. When you choose to do so, a small, simple repair job and quickly grow into an expensive, extensive repair. When water continues to leak—even small drips—gravity pulls that water downward. Small ceiling stains can eventually lead to water accumulating in the walls.

It’s normal to be scared when you see water stains, but it is important that you act on that fear and do something about it. Contact the roofing professionals at Chadwick Roofing when you see a water stain on your ceiling before it causes too much damage.