Have you noticed the paint on your ceiling starting to bubble? Is the drywall starting to swell? Have brown rings begun forming in your ceiling? Then it’s likely there is a leak somewhere in your ceiling space. This is potentially a serious concern. Not just because it’s causing structural damage to your property but also because electrical wires run through your ceiling as well. The result can be an electrical fire, which can be devastating.
If you’ve noticed any of the warning signs, then it’s important for you to be proactive and take steps to keep yourself and your property as safe as possible. There are several proactive steps that you can take to stop the progression of your water leak and help you to keep yourself as safe as possible.
Step One: Get Something to Contain the Water
If you’ve noticed that the water from your leak is dripping down from your ceiling, then the first thing you’ll want to do is grab one or more waterproof containers to catch the dripping water. This will stop puddles from forming and putting a t-shirt or a towel inside to stop the water from splashing out of the container when it lands.
Step Two: Move your Furniture
Any furniture or decor that might be in the path of the water leak needs to be moved as soon as possible. Leaving it where it is will result in extensive water damage that may not be repairable. Timber products are particularly susceptible to water damage but so is anything made out of cloth or similar materials. If you can’t move your furniture, then we would recommend covering it using a plastic sheet or tarpaulin. If you don’t have any of this hand, then perhaps use a shower curtain or deflated paddling pool instead, even a waterproof tent would be a good option.
Step Three: Make a Drainage Hole
As strange as it may sound, making a small hole in your ceiling can seriously help to avoid some of the water damage a leak might cause. Even if water is dripping through the plaster, the build up behind your ceiling can be quite severe. Doing nothing to relieve this pressure can result in a serious breakdown in your ceiling structure, which will be costly to repair.
It is easy for you to release this pressure by making a small drainage hole in the centre of the dark or bubbling spot in your ceiling. Just grab a sturdy ladder or stools and gently make a drainage hole. Just be sure to remember to place a container underneath the area first so you may end up making a mess.
Step Four: Turn the Electricity off
As we mentioned at the beginning of this post, one of the major concerns about having water running through your ceiling is the high risk of fire. The cause of this risk is short-circuiting your electrical system, which often results in a fast spreading. If you can, we would always recommend turning your electricity off to help avoid an increased risk to your property.
Step Five: Contact a Specialist
The first step in actually repairing a water leak in your ceiling is locating the leak. Water leaks can be anywhere in the system and having an accurate and unobtrusive way of locating the issue will save you a lot of hassle and stress.
Our team at Specialist Leak Detection specialises in the accurate location of water leaks, no matter how small they might be. So, give us a call today on 0800 640 5419 or emailing us at info@specialistleakdetection.co.uk offers you the best opportunity to resolve your water leaks as quickly as possible.