How to Deal With Ceiling Water Damage From a Burst Pipe

10/26/2020 (Permalink)

Contact SERVPRO in Richardson at the first signs of water damage on your ceiling. We provide professional water damage restoration in North Dallas.

Thanks to ceilings, we don’t have to see wiring and pipes every day, but when a once smooth and dry facade becomes stained or drips, this is a sign that something is very wrong.

When you have appliances or bathrooms on the floor above, plumbing runs upward to supply water for these functions. Problems with either the pipes or the items they attach to can create a water emergency that damages anything below it, the ceiling included.

The good news is that you’ve now caught the problem, and can take action before it gets worse. As your Richardson SERVPRO, we can’t stress enough how important it is to react promptly to water damage. We’ll share how to spot water ceiling water damage and what to do to fix a leaking ceiling.

Signs of Ceiling Water Damage From a Burst Pipe

As long as water continues to leak from a broken pipe, continuous damage will occur. The sooner you can recognize signs of ceiling water damage to the ceiling, the more likely you are to successfully prevent extensive damage.

Rings of stains are made when water seeps through ceiling material and mixes with its composite fibers. Ceiling stains are a common indication of a leak (and might even be the first sign), but there are other things to look for that could mean you have an emerging leak problem.

Yellow or Brown Watermarks

So what does a ceiling water stain look like? These appear as watermarks that are typically yellowish-brown or “rusty” brown. 

Ceiling marks don’t always mean that there is a current water leak. Sometimes they are remnants of water issues that have been resolved a while back (perhaps by the previous owners). 

Even if the damage isn’t new, it’s still worth investigating it to find the source of the problem. The more rings that appear and the more they spread across the ceiling, the more likely it is that there is an ongoing problem.

Swollen or Warped Ceiling

Ceilings are made to be flat and even. Swelling in ceiling material can come in the form of a slight bend or more curvy droop. Swelling on your body is a sign of a problem, and it’s the same with ceilings. 

Rings of stains are made when water seeps through ceiling material to mix with and activate the composite fibers. Ceiling stains are a common indication of a leak (and might be the first sign), but there are other things to look for that signals for an emerging water leak.

Mold Odor and Stains

Mold loves to be surrounded by cellulose material and moisture - soggy ceilings provide both. You’ll notice mold growth by its musty smell coupled with its dark spotting. 

Apart from the ugly and splotchy pattern mold makes on your ceiling, mold can also potentially make the living environment unhealthy.

You might go days without looking at your ceilings. If something abnormal catches your eye, it’s worth it to find out if there’s a water leak behind it. If one area alerts you to water damage, this is a good time to check all of your ceilings for problems.

How to Deal With Ceiling Water Damage

Once you’ve determined that your ceilings are damp from water leaks, It’s time to get an action plan together. 

1. Prepare the Area Around Ceiling Damage

For this step, you will ready the area for falling water. This step is especially important for swelling, sweating, or dripping ceilings. Move anything out of the way that you wouldn’t want to get wet.

To catch water that reaches the ground, place a tarp or towels on the floor below. Have on standby a bucket and piercing tool (like an awl or screwdriver).

Set up a ladder under the affected area and carefully climb up the ladder while bringing a bucket and piercing tool with you.

Determine the center of the damage. Place the bucket under the center to catch the water (setting the bucket on the top of the ladder may help so you don’t lose your balance). Carefully poke a hole in the center. If water starts to flow through the hole, allow it to collect in the bucket until it stops.

2. Track Down the Source of Water Damage

If water releases from poking a hole in the ceiling, this confirms that there are recent and possibly ongoing water issues causing the saturation.

Fixing the ceiling but not the source of the water damage means an endless cycle of repairs. The source of the ceiling water damage must be addressed to stop it from continuing.

Investigation Methods

• Cut out a piece of the ceiling and use a flashlight to look and listen for drips from pipes.
• Scope out the area directly above the leak. This could be the crawlspace or an upstairs room with running water (such as a bathroom or utility room). Look for any plumbing issues in these spaces. Possible causes include leaks in the drain system, faults in the supply line, or broken caulking.

Keep in mind that water leak trickles can cling to and travel along pipes. When this occurs, the source of the damage may not be directly lined up with the site of the ceiling damage.

Once you find the source of the leak, determine if it’s something you can fix with confidence. If not, it’s time to call in the professionals.

3. Dry the Affected Area

Wetness cannot remain. The affected areas must be totally dried to avoid rotting to construction and mold growth. Here’s how to dry ceiling water damage.

High-powered fans and a desiccant dehumidifier will speed up the drying process. This type of equipment can be rented.

For widespread damage, the ceiling material may need to be cut away substantially so that airflow can reach and dry the construction behind it.

Place the drying equipment as close to the affected area as possible. This includes the ceiling material and any wooden structures above it (such as joists). Be sure to empty the dehumidifier as it fills.

The drying process can take up to a full day to complete. Surfaces that appear to be dry may still be harboring moisture. A moisture meter will confirm if the area is actually dry enough.

Don’t have all this equipment on hand? SERVPRO does. We’ll bring the best tools in the industry to ensure that the affected areas are completely dry so that mold and rot won’t set in.

4. Repair Water Damaged Ceiling

Once the leaks have been resolved and the areas are dried, we move on to repairing the water damaged ceiling.

The appropriate remedy depends on the size and nature of the damage. A modest amount of stains can be bleached, sanded down, and painted over with products intended for stains (such as an oil-based undercoat and stain-sealant paint). If you made a hole to check for water build-up, patch that up with plaster or drywall mud before you paint.

In cases where the damage is widespread and sections had to be cut out, you’ll need to replace the drywall or plaster. Retexturize and paint as needed to make it match the rest of the ceiling.

Reach Out to SERVPRO Richardson for Water Damage Restoration

It can be a challenge to fix a ceiling, especially if you have physical limitations or the problem is beyond reach. When you get to a point where you’re not confident you can handle the repair nor locate the cause of the damage, SERVPRO is here to help you.

For decades, we’ve been a trusted provider for Richardson water damage restoration. With our 24/7 emergency dispatch, we are faster to any size disaster in Richardson, Texas. 

We’ll come out to your property ASAP to assess the damage, find the source of the water damage, and complete the recovery. In no time, your ceiling will be as good as new!

Don’t delay! The longer a ceiling is exposed to water and moisture, the more likely it is to break down or develop toxic mold growth. Call us any time at (972) 690-1414 with any questions about pipe leaks, water damage, or to request free pricing!