Water Leaking Through Your Ceiling? Here's What to Do!

a women holding a bucket to catch water from ceiling leaks
Your home is a significant investment, and you work hard to keep it in tip-top shape. If you spot an area of your ceiling that is stained, peeling, or cracking, you may have a leak. Water damage is unfortunate, but there are steps you can take to keep the damage from spreading.

1. Control the Situation

It would be best if you acted as quickly as possible to prevent the water damage from spreading. Move furniture and other valuable items out of the way. Once you have cleared the area, lay out a tarp to protect carpeting and wood floors. It is also good to place buckets under areas that experience drippage.

Even if you do not have drippage, you may not be in the clear. Drywall is extremely absorbent and can carry water damage beyond the source. If you have drywall, pierce a small hole in the center of the damage so that water can drain from the ceiling into your bucket instead of spreading and causing more trouble.

2. Find and Repair the Source of the Damage

After you have controlled the spread of the damage, it is time to find the cause. Water damage can come from many places in your home. Even if you can identify the room in which the water is coming from, you then have to figure out if the damage is from a sink, shower, toilet, or another drain. One solution is to cut a hole in the ceiling so that you can inspect the pipes above.

Have someone run water in the bathrooms and the kitchen to see which pipe leaks. If recreating the leak is proving difficult, try laying out paper towels or toilet paper and let the traces of moisture guide you to the source.

3. Dry the Damage

How long does it take for a ceiling to dry after a leak? The timing will vary based on the size of the affected area.

While smaller leaks usually dry up on their own, larger leak areas must be dried out. Without proper time and maintenance, the water remaining behind the walls can develop mold and make for a bigger problem in the future. Be sure to dry any affected pipes and other materials, and use a fan to cover hard-to-reach or bigger spaces.

4. Repair the Ceiling

Whether the water damage required a small hole or a rather large one, you will need to patch up the ceiling. Minor holes may require simple solutions such as some spackle and a layer of paint. Larger holes make for a different story.

Water that causes damage to large areas of your ceiling may require you to remove those sections. Replacing these areas is healthier for your home's structure in the long run, and it is easier to hang dry materials when the ceiling joists are exposed. After you run over the new section with some paint, you can breathe easily.

Contact Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Oneida for Plumbing and Water Solutions

If you think there is some deep-seated plumbing issue with your water damage, have professionals take a look. Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Oneida offers service from licensed plumbers certified by Onondaga County. With this certification, our team can handle any emergency and regular maintenance your home may need.