Have you noticed the tell-tale coffee-colored stains on the ceiling of your home? This is usually the first sign of a leak that homeowners see. Once you have spotted this, it is time to give it a closer inspection to determine if it is from condensation or a leak? Both leaks and condensation may stain the same but often you can tell the difference between one and the other by where they are located.

Leak stains have round rings that grow outward in shape from small to large. These stains are located along interior walls or the ceiling of your home. Condensation on the other hand tends to stain along corners and ceilings in the home. The stain from condensation will appear more blotchy than a leak.

Poor ventilation is the primary cause of condensation in a home. Leaks on the other hand can occur due to a wide number of reasons. Both condensation and leaks are issues that you do not want to put off. When you go up into your attic make sure your vents are not blocked and are open. Humid air trapped in your hope will lead to attic condensation.

Check your insulation to ensure that humid air is not reaching the attic. If you have an inadequate thickness or poor quality insulation this can cause several home problems. If the home has poor insulation, consider adding blown water-resistant insulation as a replacement to prevent future condensation from forming. Once you have confirmed that your condensation is not due to ventilation or humidity issues, you need to begin looking for any leaks that you may have.

Leaks are a more immediate problem that you will want to locate quickly. Thankfully, locating a leak in many cases is somewhat predictable. Most leaks will be located uphill from the stain site. From there look around vents, chimneys, skylights, and any other thing that projects out of your roof.

If you still have not found a leak after checking each of these sites. You may want to bring in an professional to assist you. If you decide to continue looking on your own it might be about time to break out the garden house and simulate yourself a shower to assist you. Consider pulling up a few shingles in the location where you think the leak might be at. This will make it much easier to find and assess the extent of the leak and what will need to be done to repair it.