Ceiling Leak Water Damage in Mooresville, NC

The two-story homes built along Williamson Road, in Morrison Plantation and across the Langtree side of town usually stack a bathroom or laundry over a kitchen or living room. A failed wax ring, a cracked tub drain, a shower pan that stopped holding water or a pinhole in a supply line upstairs shows up as a stain or a drip in the ceiling below.

Finding the source

Water on a ceiling runs along joists and drywall seams before it shows, so the stain can sit several feet from the actual leak. The tech who does the walkthrough uses thermal imaging and moisture meters to follow the wet area back to its source, which tells the plumber where to open up and tells the drying team how far the water spread.

• Tub and shower drains and overflow gaskets
• Toilet wax rings and supply lines
• Supply lines inside the floor system
• Washer supply hoses and drain boxes in upstairs laundry rooms
• Air handler drain pans in attics above bedrooms

How the ceiling is dried

A small stain on a ceiling that is not sagging can often be dried in place with air movers and a dehumidifier. When the drywall is soft or bulging, the mitigation team drains and removes the wet section so the joists and insulation above can dry. Readings continue daily until the framing reaches the goal.

Stopping the next one

Recaulking tub surrounds, replacing old toilet supply lines and adding a pan under an upstairs washer prevent many repeat leaks. The Consumer Product Safety Commission posts appliance and fixture recalls, and the EPA explains moisture and mold in homes. If the water came from the roof, see roof leak water damage.