Make it safe
- Kill power to the area.Switch off the breaker for the affected room if it is safe to reach.
- Close the main water.If it might be plumbing, closing the main stops the source while you investigate.
- Relieve a sagging ceiling.A bulging drywall bubble holds water. Placing a bucket below and carefully poking a small hole at the lowest point can stop it from giving way all at once. Stand to the side.
- Move belongings.Clear furniture and electronics from under the leak and protect the floor.
- Photograph.Take photos of the ceiling and the area before cleanup for your insurer.
Plumbing, roof or appliance?
- IfThe leak stops soon after you close the mainIt is likely a supply line. Call a licensed plumber.
- IfIt only leaks when a shower or toilet upstairs is usedIt may be a drain, shower pan or toilet seal. Stop using that fixture.
- IfIt started during or after rainIt may be the roof. A roofer, not a plumber, is usually the right call.
- IfIt is under an attic air handler or water heaterCheck for a clogged condensate line or a heater leak.
One-story homes and attic lines
Many of Brea's older tract homes are single story, so a ceiling leak there rarely comes from an upstairs bathroom. When it is plumbing, it is often a supply line that was rerouted through the attic during an earlier repipe or slab leak repair, or equipment installed in the attic.
In two-story homes, the usual sources are a shower pan, a tub overflow, a toilet wax seal or a supply line feeding an upstairs bathroom. Water can travel along joists before it drips, so the stain may not sit directly below the leak.
What a plumber will look for
- Whether the leak continues with the main off, which separates supply from drain leaks.
- Moisture readings around the stain to trace it toward the source.
- Fixture tests, such as running a shower or filling a tub upstairs.
- Signs of past repairs or rerouted lines in the attic.
- Where to open the ceiling to reach the leak with the least damage.
Key facts
- First priority
- Electrical safety
- Second priority
- Close the main water
- Stain location
- May not be directly under the leak
- Drywall repair
- Usually a separate trade after the plumbing fix
Questions to ask
- Is this a supply leak, a drain leak or something else?
- Where will you open the ceiling, and how big will the hole be?
- Who patches the drywall afterward?
- Should the area be dried out before it is closed up?
- What is your CSLB license number?
Common questions
- Can I leave a small ceiling drip until morning?
- If the main is off and power to the area is off, a small drip can often wait. A sagging or bulging ceiling should be relieved right away.
- Will the ceiling need to be replaced?
- Often only a section is cut out and patched. Ceilings that stayed wet for a long time may need more.
- Should I worry about mold?
- Wet drywall and insulation should be dried quickly. Ask whether drying equipment is needed before the ceiling is closed.
General information for Brea, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.