Who loves living in a house with water leaking from ceiling? Definitely, not you or any other LA homeowner. However, ceilings still leak for various reasons. Knowing some of the causes will help you prevent them and get appropriate professional help when they occur.
It’s also worth noting that ceiling repairs will cost you money. For instance, you will spend between $50 and $100 to repair one square foot. Remain with this post to discover the ten leading leak causes and how to avoid them, if possible.
1. Cracks in the Chimney
Chimney cracks can cause your ceiling to leak. If this is the cause, you can detect it by looking for wear and tear signs along the mud cap. You may also detect this problem by checking out for any holes in the mortared joints that connect the chimney with the roof. These cracks occur when the chimney’s mortar easily erodes due to harsh weather elements.
2. Gutter Problems
Gutter problems also cause leaking ceilings. Sticks, leaves, grass, and other debris can end up in your gutters. Failing to clean your gutters regularly causes debris to accumulate and prevent free water flow. This water can build up to the roof and end up in the shingles, causing ceiling leaks. Therefore, it’s advisable to clean your gutters at least thrice annually to keep them functional. You may also need to clear some trees if you have many of them around your house.
3. Holes on the Roof
Roof holes are leading causes of leaking ceilings. They give water a direct ticket to flow into your house. These holes can develop gradually if you neglect your roof or suddenly if a huge object hits the roof. Your roof could also get holes if you don’t patch the spaces that remain after removing old objects like satellite dishes.
4. Leaking or Dripping Water Pipes
Leaking or dripping water pipes also cause water leaking from ceiling. Some plumbing pipes are located in your attic and might cause ceiling leaks by leaking or gathering moisture.
5. Broken Shingles
Broken shingles also cause ceiling leaks. Fortunately, they are easy to detect by simply looking up and identifying different colored patches. You may also identify this problem by finding scattered shingles in the yard after heavy storms or downpours. Shingles break due to high winds or heavy downpours.
6. Roof Debris
Debris on your roof is another factor that causes water leaking from ceiling. When is the last time you cleaned your roof? What about the recent storm that hit your area and caused broken branches to fall on your roof? These plant remains can rot and cause your ceiling to leak even without damaging your house’s shingles. The reason is that the pooling water on the roof can still seep down into your home.
7. Cracked Flashing
Cracked flashings cause leaking ceilings. They crack when the tar roofers use to seal them together rot with time. When the flashings are exposed for some time, winds and rain can make them break. Consequently, they allow water down the roof, causing your ceiling to leak.
8. Condensation in Your House
Condensation in your house is another culprit behind leaking ceilings. If your home has incorrect venting or insulation, it’s most likely to experience condensation. Also, using a whole-house humidifier in extreme settings increases condensation in your house. This condensation mostly builds up in the attic. Therefore, it’s beneficial to keep your humidifier below 30 percent.
9. An Ice Dam
An ice dam can cause your ceiling to leak. It’s prudent to take time during winter to inspect your house to see where these dams have built. Otherwise, the accumulated ice and snow will melt and start leaking into your house. The water will end up in your home because it has nowhere else to go. At times, the leak happens even during winter due to the heat generated in your house. Therefore, early inspection and detection will save you leakage problems.
10. Incorrectly Sealed Valleys
You are most likely to experience leaking in your ceiling if your home has incorrectly sealed valleys. Valleys are areas where two roof places meet. They are sloped, and failing to seal them correctly allows rainwater to seep in as it flows down the roof. The problem occurs if the roofer didn’t close them properly or the valleys cracked because someone stepped on them. Also, excess ice and rain can gradually erode them.
Ceilings leak for many reasons. This post explored the top ten ceiling leak causes and how you can detect them. Go on and use this valuable information to make informed choices.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
