A wet ceiling is a symptom, not the problem. The water usually comes from a roof opening, a plumbing leak overhead or an AC drain, and the drywall below only shows what is happening above. The January 24, 2019 storm that destroyed a roof in the Groveland area shows how roof damage can send water indoors.
Reading the stain
- Brown rings that grow after rain
- Drips near a light or a vent
- Paint that bubbles or peels
- A ceiling that sags in the middle
- Insulation that feels wet above
Brown stain or sagging drywall overhead? Stay clear of it and describe it to the drying team.
Talk through the ceiling stainOpening the ceiling
A ceiling that has sagged or cracked is cut open, because wet drywall and insulation hold water and cannot be dried reliably from below. Smaller stains can sometimes dry in place when the readings drop after the source is stopped. Insulation that has absorbed water mats down and stops insulating, so it comes out with the drywall. Light fixtures in a wet ceiling are switched off at the breaker until an electrician checks them.
Fixing the cause
A roofer, a plumber or an HVAC technician repairs the source, and the restoration team dries what the water reached. For storm openings, the roof leak page covers the roof side of the problem.
An overflowing air handler is another common cause, covered on the AC drain leak page.
Ceiling Leak Water Damage in short
Ceiling leak restoration traces the water to its source, opens saturated drywall so the cavity can dry, and uses air movers and dehumidifiers to dry the framing and insulation above.