Help needed with stain on ceiling near air vent

5 years ago

I have these stains on the ceiling, right at the air vent in two separate rooms. These stains are brownish in color, not wet. They only appear around these vents. Tried cleaning, won't come off with out removing the paint . I've had the roof checked for leaks. Talked with the AC guy and he has no suggestions.

I have central air, gas heat. I have a humidifier installed, so I think that it may be the culprit. I had the humidity turned up too high when it was first installed, thinking that may be the issue, but my AC guy doesn't think so.

Any suggestions?

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Comments (5)

cat_ky
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
It looks very much like water staining. What is your humidity in the house right now. Have you gone in the attic and looked around up there, to see if any water stains. Remember water doesnt have to come in, right in that spot. It runs down the rafters until it finds a point of entry. It can sometimes be very hard to find a leak in the roof.
Jim thanked cat_ky
woodbutcher_ca
5 years ago
Hi, If you can go up into the attic and check around the heat duct. Also remove the register and look for any water damage.

To remove the water stain I have used bleach and water in a spray bottle with good success. Make sure you cover any thing under where you are spraying to prevent damage.

Good Luck Woodbutcher
Jim thanked woodbutcher_ca
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Lyndee Lee
5 years ago
If you can't find water damage, this might be an air quality issue. I would check the filter on the furnace to see if it is clean. Make sure no one is burning candles or incense in the house. Check out info on the web for ghosting aka thermal tracking.
Jim thanked Lyndee Lee
Jennifer Hogan
5 years ago
It looks like water staining. The stains are caused by water penetrating the drywall and evaporating, leaving mineral deposits behind. The brown doesn't show while it is wet - it shows up as it dries.

I don't know what is above your ceiling. You could have condensation from pipes or a leaky roof or a poorly ventilated attic. Where there is water staining there is/was water. Moisture issues if not identified and taken care of can lead to big problems. If wood is compromised termites get happy. If moisture persists you can have mold.

Does your attic have a musty smell? Is the insulation damp? Are the spots getting darker?

Do you own a moisture meter?

Be vigilant. Water is the enemy.
Jim thanked Jennifer Hogan
Jim
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks to all for the responses and suggestions.

I do not have easy access to my attic, but finding it necessary to try to get it checked out. One of the vents is not accessible - the ceiling is a cathedral A-frame, with very little attic area between ceiling and roof. The other is in a more open area of the attic, so will be able to check that. The humidifier company did say it is possible that the stain is due to the high humidity setting that I had initially.

Will try the suggested cleaning technique.