What to Do When You Have a Leaking Ceiling

When you have a leaking ceiling, it is usually due to another plumbing issue that you need to take care of as soon as possible. You have a leaking ceiling if you have blistering or peeling paint, dripping water or discolouration on your ceiling. If you’re experiencing this problem, it’s best to call a plumber rather than fixing the problem yourself.

Why you may have a leaking ceiling 

• Toilet leak – you may have a toilet leak if your ceiling is leaking. Toilet leaks usually come from your water or supply tank, but a ceiling leak due to your toilet may be from a worn wax ring. If you have a worn wax ring, water will be able to seep through whenever you flush and may run behind your walls and drip down your pipes, causing water damage on your ceiling.
• Shower leak – you may have a shower leak if your ceiling is leaking. This is probably caused by an upstairs shower, especially if the floor near the shower is peeling or curling. This is due to worn out caulk or holes in your water supply lines.
• Sink leak – your sink may be leaking if your ceiling has water damage. You’ll usually notice a pool of water on your floor and your cupboard doors might be damaged and mouldy. A leaking sink may be due to your supply hoses, a damaged caulk, a loose P-trap or a loose strainer.
• Roof leak – a ceiling leak may be due to a roof leak, which can be caused by missing or damaged shingles or a blocked gutter. It will usually cause large water spots on your ceiling that are brown and will also allow mould to grow. These water spots may become larger when it rains.

If you have a leaking ceiling, here’s what you should do while waiting for a professional.

Clear the area 

A leaking ceiling will probably cause damage to your belongings if you don’t move them. Therefore, if you have any important items underneath your leaking ceiling, you should move them straight away. Clearing the area will also make it easier for a plumber to access your ceiling.

Use a bucket to catch dripping water

After clearing the space, make sure that you place a bucket underneath the affected area to catch dripping water. This will ensure that you don’t damage your floor and it will also give you an idea of how much water is dripping.

Determine whether you can stop the source of water

Determine whether you can stop the flow of water by using a shut-off valve. You should also check if water is only leaking whenever you use a toilet, shower, tap or a washing machine. If you find the source of the problem, you should temporarily stop the usage of water from this area. If you can’t seem to stop the water from dripping, contact a professional.

These are some reasons why your ceiling may be leaking and what you should do if you have this problem. A leaking ceiling is serious, so you should get in touch with a professional. Our list of plumbing services here will be able to fix your problem.