Water coming through your ceiling? Here's what to do.
Take a breath. First, stay away from water near a light, fan, or outlet, and catch the drip. Then look at when it happens. If it drips when it rains, it's usually the roof. If it drips when someone upstairs runs water, it's usually plumbing. If it shows up when the AC is running, it's often the AC drain line. Text me a picture and I'll tell you what it looks like.
I'm James. I've fixed roofs around Baltimore City and Baltimore County for 24+ years and worked on thousands of homes. I'm usually up on a roof during the day, so a text is the fastest way to reach me. If it's urgent, say so in the text.
The next few minutes
- Don't touch a wet light, fan, or switch. If water is near wiring, turn that circuit off at the breaker only if you can get to the panel without standing in water.
- Keep people out from under a sagging ceiling. A bulge full of water can come down.
- Catch the water with a bucket, a towel in the bottom so it doesn't splash, and towels on the floor around it.
- Move your things and take pictures of the ceiling and the drip, with the time.
If it's coming in fast during rain, see my roof is leaking: what to do right now for the full list.
Is it the roof, plumbing, or the AC?
| What you notice | Usually | Who to call |
|---|---|---|
| Drips during or right after rain | Roof, flashing, or gutters | A roofer |
| Stain on the ceiling of the highest floor, near the chimney, or along an outside wall | Roof or flashing | A roofer |
| Drips when a shower, toilet, or sink upstairs is used | A pipe or drain | A plumber |
| Stain under a bathroom, on any floor | Plumbing | A plumber |
| Drips in summer when the AC runs, near a vent or the air handler | AC drain line or drain pan | An HVAC tech |
| Shows up on cold days in winter, with no rain | Ice at the roof edge or damp in the attic | A roofer |
On a Baltimore rowhome, a stain on the upstairs ceiling along the shared wall usually points to the flat roof or the flashing where it meets the house next door.
Water coming through a ceiling light
This is the one to take seriously. Don't turn the light on or off. Shut off that circuit at the breaker if you can reach the panel without standing in water. Water often runs along the wiring and drips out at the light because that's where there's a hole in the ceiling. The leak itself is usually above it and a little uphill. Once the power is off, have an electrician check the fixture before you use it again.
A stain, but no drip
- Press gently. If it's soft or damp, the leak is active.
- Mark the edge of the stain lightly with a pencil and take a picture.
- Check it after the next rain. If it grew past the mark, it's still leaking.
A brown ring that never grows may be an old leak that was already fixed. I'd still want to look at the attic above it for wet wood or mold.
Don't paint over it yet
Paint covers the stain, not the leak. Fix the source first, let the ceiling dry all the way, then use a stain-blocking primer before you paint. If you paint too early, the stain comes back and you lose the one clue that shows the leak is still there.
What I do when you text me
- I look at your pictures. If it looks like plumbing or the AC, I'll tell you, so you call the right person.
- If it looks like the roof, I come out and start in the attic when I can, then the roof. On steep or tall roofs I can use the drone. I'm an FAA-licensed drone pilot.
- You get pictures of what I find and a price before any work starts.
- I fix where the water is getting in, not just the spot on the ceiling. See roof leak detection and repair.
I'm licensed and insured, MHIC #154344.
Ceiling leak questions
Why is water coming through my ceiling light?
Water runs along the wiring and the framing until it finds a hole, and the hole for the light is often the first one. The leak is usually above and a little uphill from the light. Don't use the light until the power is off and an electrician has checked it.
Who do I call for a water stain on the ceiling?
If it shows up after rain, call a roofer. If it shows up when a bathroom or kitchen upstairs is used, call a plumber. If it shows up with the AC running, call an HVAC tech. If you're not sure, text me a picture and I'll tell you what it looks like.
What does a water stain on the ceiling with no leak mean?
It can be an old leak that already stopped, or a leak that only shows up in hard or wind-driven rain. Mark the edge with a pencil and check it after the next rain. If it grows, it's still active.
Why is my ceiling leaking when it hasn't rained?
Usually a pipe, a drain, or the AC drain line. In winter it can also be ice at the roof edge or damp building up in the attic. Look at what's above the stain and when it shows up.
Can I just paint over a water stain on my ceiling?
Not until the leak is fixed and the ceiling is fully dry. Then use a stain-blocking primer first, or the stain will bleed back through.
Is water dripping from the ceiling dangerous?
It can be. Water near wiring and a sagging ceiling are the two real dangers. Stay out from under a bulge and keep away from wet lights and outlets. A slow drip away from wiring is a problem to fix soon, not a danger.
More help
My roof is leaking: what to do right now
Steps for the first hour of a leak.
Roof leak detection and repair
How I find and fix where the water gets in.
Shingles blew off your roof?
What to do about missing shingles before the next rain.
How to find a good roofer in Baltimore
How to check a Maryland license and what to send a roofer.
Water coming through your ceiling?
Text me a picture of the ceiling and your address. I'll look at it as soon as I'm off the roof I'm on and tell you what I think, even if it turns out to be plumbing. If it's urgent, say so in the text.
