Water stains are one of the most common problems that affect household ceilings. In fact, they can be so common that some homeowners find it easy to shrug the problem away. Unfortunately, even the smallest water stain on your ceiling should be considered a cause for concern, and any that appear should warrant a call to a professional.

Here are just three important reasons why.

1. Water Stains Can Harbour Mould

Mould and mildew are adept at thriving in moisture-filled areas of your home, and a water-damaged ceiling is perfect. As the ceiling becomes softer and more filled with moisture, it becomes easier for such infestations to occur. This will obviously make your ceiling look a lot worst that if did with just the water strain, but that's only the tip of the iceberg. For one thing, you'll start to notice the room in question developing a musty and unpleasant aroma.

More importantly, mould spores can produce allergic reactions, particularly in younger members of the household; combined with the damp caused by excessive moisture, your water-stained ceiling could also create respiratory problems. These can be no small matter, so you need to treat the water stain as quickly as possible.

2. Water Stains Indicate Further Problems

Moisture doesn't come from nowhere, so you'll often find that the water stains along your ceiling were caused by a leak from just above. This is why such stains are more common in downstairs rooms. Even if the leak is very small, perhaps just letting a few drops fall every hour, the moisture can build up and start to damage the structure of your home. If you notice that the ceiling is starting to sag or bulge, you'll probably need extensive repair work.

The best thing to do is catch the problem early. A professional will be able to identify the cause of moisture in the first place, then have the damage repaired.

3. Water Stains Can Ruin a Ceiling 

If you tackle a water stain quickly by contacting a professional, it's likely that you will require only the lightest of cosmetic repair jobs to return your ceiling to its full and former glory. Unfortunately, this is unlikely to be the case if you want for too long.

Any serious sagging or staining could require a whole new ceiling to be installed thanks to the loss of structural integrity. This is going to be both inconvenience and expensive, so there's no reason not to deal with the problems straight away, when all that's needed might be a little bit of attention and some paint.