How to Fix Water Stains On Walls

Water stains on walls aren’t something anyone enjoys to look at in their home. It might seem like an easy option to just paint over the stain, but it will take more than that. It’s very important to determine if there is an ongoing problem causing the stain, and fixing that before you go any further. If you don’t follow the steps, you could have more problems down the line.

Solve the Underlying Issue

Water stains on walls are a big sign of water damage. Seeing this is your signal to find out where the water could be coming from. Most likely this is due to a leak somewhere in your plumbing, but there could be other causes. These problems can be from somewhere outside your home as well. If you can’t determine where the leak is coming from, call your local plumber to find the leak and repair it.

Here are some common reasons water damage can occur:

• Plumbing failures
• Construction failures
• Natural events
• Appliance failures

Dry the Area

Once you’ve fixed the underlying problem, you need to make sure the area is completely dry. You can do this using dehumidifiers and fans. Place the dehumidifier on the highest setting in between two fans. Depending on how large the stain is, it can take hours to completely dry. Even if the wall only feels a little damp, it’s still important to fully complete the drying process. If you’re in count, go ahead and allow the fans and dehumidifier to run overnight.

Remove Loose Material

Water stains on walls may be covering more damage than what you can see. Use a painter’s knife or a putty knife to scrape away at any loose paint or material from the wall. If the damage is minor, you will just be scraping away at the layers of paint. If the damage is more prominent, you may need to scrape away deeper into the wall to remove all the damaged material.

Clean the Area With Bleach

Once you’ve removed all the damaged material and the water stains from the walls, use a bleach mixture to sanitize the area. If it’s not sanitized, it can lead to mold. Carefully wipe down the area to avoid letting bleach drip onto your floors or furniture. Make sure when you are cleaning the area to get into every crevice to ensure mold will not be able to grow. After you have done this, allow it to air dry completely before moving to the next step.

Repair the Wall if Needed

Now that the area is cleaned, it’s time to repair the wall. If you had to scrape away at more than just the paint on the wall, you will need to use drywall mud to fill in any cracks, dents, or crevices. Use your painter’s knife to smooth it over and let it dry. Use some sandpaper to sand it down to make it even with the wall. If you need to do a few layers, that’s completely fine. Just make sure to allow it to dry between each layer.

Paint Over the Stain

Now it’s time to paint! We recommend using a stain blocking primer before you go in with the color. After you’ve allowed the first coat of primer to dry, go in again with a second coat. This will add extra protection to your wall to prevent any water stains from showing through the walls. After the second coat of primer is fully dry, apply the colored paint. It’s possible to only have to paint over the stained area, but you might have to just repaint the whole wall to get an even looking finish. 

Final Thoughts

Water stains on walls can be a sign of water damage in your home. Getting the problem fixed before more issues occur will save you time and money. Call your local plumber to diagnose and fix the problem to prevent any more issues from occurring. It’s not essential to remove the stain on the wall, but it will look much better in your home without it. 

Call 1-Tom-Plumber

Don’t hesitate to contact us or call us at 1-Tom-Plumber (1-866-758-6237) if you need a plumbing or water damage service. We will immediately handle any emergency plumbing, drain, and water damage problem, including excavation of underground water lines and sewer main lines.