Diagnosing distortions in ceiling drywall

Question

We have lived in our home for 4.5 years and just noticed some drywall distortions on the ceiling of the first floor of our two story home today. The second story bathroom is somewhat close but not directly above, and I don't see obvious signs of water damage. Any advice on diagnosing what is going on?

Answer 1

Press on it to see if it's hollow or loose. See these for more information:

• Why does my home’s ceiling and wall have lines, bumps, and bulges?
• Bad drywall job or water damage?
• Why did the drywall tape fail in my garage? How can I fix it?

If it's hollow or loose, look at these:

• How can I smooth out a poor drywall repair?
• Why did the drywall tape fail in my garage? How can I fix it?

If it feels solid, look at these:

• How can I repair a poor drywall taping job?
• Should I sand down the drywall or put more mud to even it out?

There are plenty of others if you want to keep learning.