Finding a house that suffices all your requirements and fits your budget is like finding a needle in a haystack! It’s hard but fortunately possible. And when you find a perfect house, you want to seal the deal ASAP. But then, you look at the ceilings, see a stain, and don’t want to continue. Ceiling stains are the most common concern for home buyers. And it is a deal breaker in many cases. But are ceiling stains dangerous?

It is hard to find the cause of ceiling stains, and people often assume it to be a leak. But there could be other reasons, like a faulty chimney installation. One wrong insertion and there will be corroding stains on the ceilings.

If the stains show moisture, the inspectors do a moisture detection test. A wet ceiling stain shows that the problems causing the marks are still present, while a dry stain isn’t a big problem. It only requires an inspection. If you are buying a new house, it would be wise to inquire a little about these marks and their repair.

Leaks in the ceilings sound simple, but they aren’t. Leaks can cause mold growth. And mold rots the structure it grows on. If you see even a minor brown stain on your ceiling, don’t ignore it. We are here to help you identify different stains and treat them.

Stains on sidings and corners

If you haven’t read our previous article about sidings, then I recommend you to read that first. It will help you comprehend the defects that your siding can have.

You often see stains in the corner of the ceiling and the exterior wall, if not in your house, then in others. It might be from an ice dam leak. When the snow falls on the roof, it sometimes freezes before running off. If this continues, it gradually forms ice dams and causes dangerous problems like water backup.

These stains generally appear at the corner of the ceiling and the exterior wall because the ice dams form at the roof edge. If your attic doesn’t have good ventilation and bypasses, problems caused by the ice dams can increase. The cold temperature causes many problems in the house.

The attic bypasses allow warm air to enter the attic. And any air leaks in the attic can contribute to these ice dams. You can solve the issue by sealing the leaks in the attic. And then add more insulation.

Bathroom exhaust fans

Stains near the bathroom exhaust fans are a concern. The reason behind this is condensation. When you connect your bathroom exhaust fan to a poorly insulated duct loosely attached to the roof cap, the moisture will condense instead of exhausting.

If you don’t want a brown stain on your ceiling, have a well-insulated duct that has an airtight connection and is short.

Unusual ceiling stains

Check your attic if you have unusual ones randomly appearing anywhere. When your attic is not well-insulated, you will face problems like frost build-up in the attic.

When there is enough moisture, it will leak down and create various stains at random places. This leak can cause stains, and treating it is necessary.

Check your attic. If you find nails rusting and stains around its head your attic might have a condensation issue.

The best method is to seal all the air leaks in the attic and reduce indoor humidity. Professionals can also help you in this work.

Ceiling stains below plumbing fixtures

The stains below the plumbing fixture are common. The inspector needs to check the leaks for any moisture. If moisture is present, the leaks are detected and repaired. But if the leaks are dry, a thorough investigation is required.

These are the most common types of ceiling stains that you will see. It doesn’t matter how small or big the mark is. Getting your ceilings inspected is worth every penny.

Ignoring the problems will only make them worse. And you will have to sooner or later take action.

The stains on your ceilings aren’t the best sight. If your house also has these nasty stains, call us. We will send professionals to check them out for you right away!