I have some yellowish discoloration on my ceiling and I'm wondering if it's worth ripping it open to check for leaks. There was a previous issue with a bathtub overflow, which I fixed, but now I see another spot about 10 feet away that looks suspicious. It's right on a drywall seam in the middle of the room and doesn't seem to have an obvious cause, like plumbing above it. I'm concerned it could be a leak from the bedroom windows, but there's not really any water damage on the walls. The discoloration hasn't changed much over the past few months, and it's not wet to the touch. Should I start tearing into the ceiling or just leave it for now? Maybe I should seal the windows and hope for the best?
3 Answers
Discoloration like that can often indicate that water is making its way down from somewhere, usually following the path of least resistance. Grab that moisture meter and start checking daily, or mark the edges of the spot to see if it spreads over time. Keeping an eye on it can help you catch any changes early, just in case!
Thanks for the input! I think I’ll give the moisture meter a shot and then take it from there.
Addressing issues like this early is key; it’ll save you money in the long run. Even if the discoloration seems minor, it can be a sign of a bigger water problem. It’s common for water to track along joists or seams, so it might be worth investigating more closely just to be safe.
I think it’s better to check it out now than wait until it becomes a bigger problem. You might wanna grab a moisture meter so you can see if it’s damp behind there without having to do too much damage. You could even use an endoscope to take a look through a small hole, which is less work than a full demo!
Yeah, that makes sense! Plus, it's not much more work to fix more than one spot if you've already got to patch the other one up.
Sounds like a solid plan! I'll definitely keep track of the discoloration, and get that moisture meter.