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I was replacing the fill valve in our master bathroom upstairs. Things were going fine and I was making some adjustments to get the height right when the shut off valve to that toilet failed. By the time I got down to  shut off the water entirely, some water had dripped through a seam in the ceiling and the smoke detector attached beneath the toilet.

I've had the valve replaced, so the plumbing situation is resolved. My question is do I need to have that drywall torn out to prevent mold, or I can I watch it to see if there are any obvious issues?

4 minutes ago, hookem2010 said:

I was replacing the fill valve in our master bathroom upstairs. Things were going fine and I was making some adjustments to get the height right when the shut off valve to that toilet failed. By the time I got down to  shut off the water entirely, some water had dripped through a seam in the ceiling and the smoke detector attached beneath the toilet.

I've had the valve replaced, so the plumbing situation is resolved. My question is do I need to have that drywall torn out to prevent mold, or I can I watch it to see if there are any obvious issues?

run your AC for a day or two to de-humidify.  You'll be fine.

What's the ceiling look like? How many devices? Any removable? Leaving hole(s), get some air moving in that space. Put the devices back after a good 24 hours. 

  • Author

It leaked through this seam. I've got ceiling fans going, the AC running and a fan aimed up at the open smoke detector.

20251011_085549.jpg

If you see even one stain show up take a couple of measured pics (length  / width) & then compare a Dew days later 

As @baboso said, Kilz anti microbial (spray can should be sufficient).

Honestly, it's probably good the smoke detector (specifically the hole) was there as it let the water drip through quickly instead of just sitting there and seeping into the drywall.

You typically don't have any insulation between a 1st & 2nd floor so there's no "sponge" effect to worry about.

  • Author

Appreciate all the comments. It's all dried out. No staining thus far. 

On 10/11/2025 at 7:58 AM, baboso said:

Dry it out, Kilz, and repaint.

There is a mold killing Kilz primer and a mold resistant Kilz paint that works well in mold prone areas.  I don't know how different it is than the regular stuff, but it worked well in an area above our shower.

Edited by dcbc

8 minutes ago, dcbc said:

There is a mold killing Kilz primer and a mold resistant Kilz paint that works well in mold prone areas.  I don't know how different it is than the regular stuff, but it worked well in an area above our shower.

 

I used both when I built my grow rooms. It's worked and held up well.

  • 2 weeks later...

Kilz IMHO is overrated as a primer.  Stuff is a lot thinner than good paint.  But good easily accessible fix for smaller areas. 

As  @ROFL BOX said there is not insulation between floors, so no soaking up of liquid into insulation.  Still you would much prefer NOT to have any water intruding into dark spaces without airflow that could easily product mold.  What I would have done (would have been likely overkill) since I was unsure of the water volume, would have been to remove the covers on a few of the upstairs electrical outlets surrounding the hidden wet area. I would have cleaned out my shop vac and then shoved my shop vac nozzle into the opening for the smoke detector to hopefully create a vacuum.  Might have needed to drill some holes in the box for the smoke detector (if there even is one), to get the vacuum going.

Huge overkill I know.  But I would be hopefully be able to see if there was any liquid being sucked into the shop vac. but mainly I am trying to get some air moving though that dead air space between floors.

What I have discovered that is fucking amazing is concrobium mold products.  In that work differently.  You can use the stuff to help you removed visible mold physically. But what is interesting about the product is that the product literally crushes future mold spores as they try to develop.  Really, Really works well.  If I even have another situation when a house floods and the walls have to be torn out (replace your toilet supply line today!!!!)After drying out and removing any visible mold I will spray this shit on every exposed piece of lumber before re-rocking the place.

Anyhow if you ever have concerns about remaining/future mold and you can access the space, think of Concrobium products.  

Regular Kilz won't work on a water stain.  The water stain will seep right through regular Kilz.  To cover a water stain, you need to use an oil-based, or shellack-based stain-blocking sealing primer.  I always use Zinsser.

 

/-/media/A3576363253F4407B71816ECD2A8ADF5.pngZinsser - Cover Stain 13 oz. White Oil-Based Interior/Exterior Primer and Sealer Spray

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