If you have a faster leak dripping water may be pooling on the back side of the ceiling drywall and if so you cannot put off the repair.
Roof leak with clap board ceiling.
If the leak is intermittent or slow the drywall around the crack may discolor because wet drywall is a favorite breeding ground for mold.
Place a bucket below the damaged area of the ceiling or where dripping is occurring.
After all wood tends to rot warp and deteriorate if exposed to moisture for a long time.
With a drill and 1 2 inch twist bit drill a hole in the center of the damaged area.
If the leak is flowing water into your home through the ceiling and this area of water leakage is not near the eaves of your roof or your gutter system this is more.
Make sure you patch any holes for equipment that has been removed.
Often water runs to openings in the vapor barrier such as at ceiling light fixtures.
If your ceiling has a plastic vapor barrier between the drywall and the attic insulation push the insulation aside and look for flow stains on the plastic.
This is a disaster waiting to happen.
Sometimes the water shows up at a ceiling spot distant from the leak.
If the leak isn t obvious have a helper watch in the attic while you get on the roof with a garden hose.
Your leak is a gutter problem if there is a clear issue with an element of the gutter system or definite water coming from the gutters end caps downspout or gutter seams etc.
Brown or gray ceiling discoloration.
Grab a bucket trash can or some other container and place it under the site of the drip or suspected leak.
The drywall itself may also be spongy and it may sag.
Examine the water leaking from the ceiling.
A steady stream of water may now flow down into your bucket.
Begin soaking low on the roof just above where the leak is visible inside the house.
The drip however may also penetrate into the walls the flooring and your home s foundations.
Contain the leak if you find water dripping from a bulges or discoloration in your ceiling it s likely that water is pooling on the other side of that bulge or dark spot.
Look in the attic with a flashlight for evidence like water stains trhen trace them up the roof and rafters to the entry point.
Nails or screws that were used for mounting satellite dishes or other roof mounted equipment can leak.
When your ceiling leaks water the first casualty is usually the attic area along with the items that it contains.
Nail pops can also occur where the a nail or multiple nails push up and out causing the shingle above to lift eventually penetrating the top shingle and causing a leak.
Aside from the above visible signs there are also some obvious health side effects that can trigger you to realize you have mold in your home.
If the water is dirty or stains the ceiling the.
Visible mold growth usually dark green brown or black a musty odor near the area of the roof leak.
