How To Get Rid Of Brown Water Stains On Walls

Watermarks on walls are not just unsightly, they are the physical evidence of water damage. The first thing you need to do when you notice a water stain is to find the source of the water damage. If the damage came from a weather event, you may only need to patch up the area, apply primer, and repaint.  But if you can’t identify the source of where the water came from, and you’re not a plumber, it may be time to call in a team of water damage professionals to learn what causes water stains on walls and how to get rid of water stains on walls. 

HRS water damage teams in Colorado are trained and certified to pinpoint the cause of water damage and repair or replace damaged materials in your home. Whenever there is water damage, mold and mildew will also start to grow. HRS’s IICRC certified clean-up crews are expert technicians—including Master Water Restorers — are trained to pinpoint and repair the source of leaks and ensure that any resulting mold and mildew is treated and removed in a safe manner that doesn’t expose you to harmful airborne pathogens. 

HRS has been the go-to disaster services company in Colorado and Arizona for nearly 40 years. We are proud of our A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and work hard to keep it.  Our water damage restoration team has completed the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certifications, and adheres to the highest health and safety standards in your home or office. 

Call HRS today to get more information or to schedule an appointment. 

 

What Causes Water Stains On Walls

A water stain on a wall can be caused by a leak, improper ventilation, humidity, or even a backup of your gutters. If you have a heavy rainstorm and your roof needs repairs, the main clue will be watermarks on walls and ceilings. If your HVAC system malfunctions, you may notice brown water stains on walls. 

The causes of water stains can be obvious or hidden, and you may have even more than one source that caused the water stain on the wall. 

 

Clogged Or Damaged Gutters

Clogged gutters can also cause water leaks on the inside of your home. Trapped water rots the wooden exterior boards your gutters are mounted to, allowing moisture to enter your home or office. 

If this happens, you will need to replace the damaged shingles, or eventually, the whole roof. Mold can also begin to develop within 24-48 hours after a water leak, which can cause a host of health problems. 

 

Excessive Indoor Humidity 

Excess moisture inside your home can cause condensation stains on walls and ceilings. There should be an air space above the ceiling insulation to allow air to circulate over the insulation and carry away moisture escaping through the ceiling. 

If there isn’t, the humid air will find a cool spot on your wall and show up in the form of a water stain on the wall. 

 

Leaky Roof

A leaky roof may be the result of a heavy rainstorm or a leak in your HVAC system. Water damage can also happen if the roof was improperly installed or is struck by a tree.  

Another cause of a leaky roof and subsequent water damage is that your shingles may be past their prime and degrading. This allows water to seep through, resulting in brown water stains on walls.  

 

Inadequate Home Ventilation

Good ventilation occurs when there is air space above the ceiling insulation to allow air to circulate over the insulation and carry away moisture. Poor air circulation can contribute to watermarks on walls and mold growth, which can have a detrimental effect on your health.

 

Leaky Pipe 

If you can’t identify a possible water source above the watermarks on walls, you may have a leaky pipe. It’s also not uncommon for the water to run along rafters or piping before dropping onto your ceiling, concealing the true source of the problem.

 

How To Fix & Repair Water Stains On Walls

HRS Restoration Services has been in the water damage remediation and restoration business for nearly 40 years. Our highly trained and certified teams located in   Colorado can detect the source of the water damage, repair it so it doesn’t happen again, and clean and cover the water spots on the walls. 

Since water damage often leads to mold growth, we use specialized mold detection equipment to rid your home of the mold you can and can’t see. Finally, if replacement is the best course of action, we remove and replace the drywall that is beyond repair. 

 

Identify & Repair The Cause

Using moisture meters and thermal cameras, our water damage restoration team can pinpoint the source, or in some cases, multiple sources of water entry. If water damage extends into surfaces like your carpet, we use dehumidifiers and high-powered fans to dry out the area. 

Once the source of the water damage has been repaired, we can reconstruct your home or business to its pre-disaster state. 

 

Clean The Stain

Using proper PPE, our water damage restoration team cleans the stain with a solution designed to penetrate the surface for a deep clean. 

 

Apply Coat Of Stain Blocking Primer

Because most paints are water-soluble, we use a specialty stain-blocking primer so the stain will not reappear from below. 

 

Cover Primer With Ceiling Paint

After the stain blocking primer is thoroughly dry and we’ve sanded the area, we cover the affected area with ceiling paint. 

 

Check For Mold – Not all mold is visible

Mold is especially sneaky, so our team of specialists in Colorado use mold detection technology to get a picture of how much mold is present. 

Once we know where the mold is hiding, we can treat it with the proper processes including drying, disinfecting, and restoring any damage. 

 

Replace Drywall If Necessary 

If the water-damaged or mold-ridden drywall can’t be salvaged, it will need to be replaced. HRS Restoration Services will remove and replace the affected drywall. 

 

When To Call A Professional

If condensation or a small leak caused the water stain, it is likely a repair you can do yourself.  However, if you are unsure of what caused the leak, call the professionals at HRS Restoration Services. 

The longer you wait to call, the more damage that could result. This means the repair will take longer and cost more. 

Using technology, training, and experience, HRS gets to the source of what causes water stains on walls and fixes it to make sure it never happens again.