Had a similar experience recently—meter said the ceiling was dry, but my gut kept nagging me. Decided to poke around a bit more and sure enough, found damp insulation hiding behind drywall. Those meters are handy, but they're not foolproof. Trust your instincts and don't hesitate to dig deeper if something feels off...saved me from a bigger headache down the line.
"Those meters are handy, but they're not foolproof. Trust your instincts and don't hesitate to dig deeper if something feels off..."
Fair point, but I'd add a slight caution about digging around too aggressively. I've seen folks accidentally cause more damage trying to uncover a leak. If you're not sure how deep to go, start small—like carefully removing a small patch of drywall first. Check the insulation gently, then expand only if you find moisture. Instincts are great, but a measured approach can save you from creating extra repairs down the road...speaking from experience here, unfortunately.
Yeah, I get the caution, but honestly, sometimes being overly careful can backfire too. When I first moved in, I tried the whole "small patch" approach and ended up missing the real source of the leak because I was too hesitant to open things up. Ended up costing me more in the long run. I'd say if your gut is telling you something's seriously off, don't be afraid to open up a bigger section—drywall is easier (and cheaper) to fix than hidden mold or rot...
Yeah, I hear you on that. Small patches can definitely trick you into thinking you've solved the issue temporarily when you're actually just masking it. I've found that leaks tend to leave subtle clues if you know what to look for—like discoloration patterns or softness in drywall that's been damp for a while. Fresh leaks usually have clearer edges or moisture that hasn't yet soaked in deeply, while older ones might have staining that's spread out more unevenly.
But honestly, you're spot on about trusting your gut. If something feels off, it's usually worth opening things up a bit more to see what's really going on. Learned that the hard way myself after a supposedly "fixed" leak ended up causing mold behind the wall... not fun. Drywall repairs are straightforward enough, but hidden water damage can become a real headache if it goes unnoticed. Better to be safe than sorry in my book.
That's a good point about drywall repairs being straightforward—until they're not. I've had leaks that seemed minor at first but ended up causing way more trouble down the line. Makes me wonder, though, have you noticed if certain building materials or insulation types hide leaks better than others? I'm curious if some setups make it harder to spot early signs of water damage...
