Is My Wall Stain The Sign Of A Leak

Wall stains can be a nightmare to find and contain. They are the sign of a leak on the roof. The two most common wall stains are caused by animal feces or mold. You sleep in your house, and all is well, but when you wake up in the morning, you have found a stain on your wall, either in the kitchen or attached to your kid's favorite drawing. Visions of leaks, mold and health scares begin racing through your brain. Leak detection is challenging at best if you aren't a professional. These fears should prompt you to contact the professionals at Leak Detection of Atlanta.

Types of Drywall Stains

Drywall stains are unsightly, but they don't necessarily mean that there is a leak in your house. There are many possible causes for these stains, including condensation, animal messes, and mold.

Condensation

Condensation is the most common type of drywall stain. It occurs when warm air comes into contact with cold surfaces in your home, such as windows or doors. The moisture in this air condenses onto these hard surfaces as water droplets. Suppose you see this type of stain on your walls, a temperature difference between two rooms in your home causes this moisture build-up. You can fix this problem by insulating your window frames or adding insulation to your attic so that the temperature remains consistent throughout your house.

Animal Messes

An animal mess left behind by pets can cause stains on your drywall as well. If an animal is living in your home — whether a dog or cat or something else — they may have rubbed against the wall and transferred some of their body oils onto it. This isn't always a problem because household cleaners like bleach can remove these stains without damaging the surface of your drywall too much.

Mold

Mold and mildew are different, but they can look very similar. The difference is that mold is a fungus, and mildew happens when mold isn't treated correctly. Both can be found on drywall to varying degrees; they're both bad news. If you see mold growing on your wall, the moisture levels in your home are too high, leading to all sorts of problems down the line.

Other Signs Of a Leak

Water leaks are one of the most common causes of wall stains. A leak can be caused by several things, including plumbing issues or even a faulty appliance. Other signs of a potential leak include:

Wet carpets or floors
Mold and mildew growth on your walls or ceiling panels
Damp spots on the ceilings or floors
Rusty stains on ceilings or walls
A musty smell
Warped floors
Cracked tiles or grout lines

Steps To Take If You Think You Have a Leak

Leaks can happen at any time. The best way to prevent leaks is to prepare for them with the right tools.

If you do find a leak, here are some steps you can take:

Turn off the water supply
Call Leak Detection of Atlanta for a leak repair.

If you aren't sure whether you leak, it's worth contacting a professional like Leak Detection of Atlanta for a thorough inspection. You may find that what looks like a leak is condensation or some other harmless occurrence. However, if a leak is a culprit, the situation requires a leak repair immediately. After all, those little black dots and brown spots might be the first sign that your home is not as watertight as you thought.