What to Do When Water Starts Dripping from Your Ceiling

It can be rather shocking to see water dripping from your ceiling. If this should happen to you, it's important to take quick action so that you can minimise any damage. So what exactly do you need to do when you notice water dripping from your ceiling?

1. The Furniture

Move all furniture away from the dripping water. Remove it from the room if possible, just in case the problem escalates.

2. The Carpet

Protect your carpet with plastic sheeting. If you don't have any plastic sheeting or even a tarpaulin, plastic rubbish bags (taped together) make an excellent substitute. You might wish to place a bucket (or several buckets) under the area of ceiling that is dripping.

3. The Electricity

Go to your home's electricity control panel and deactivate the electricity for the room in question. This will prevent any water that might enter your lighting fixtures from becoming a danger.

4. The Ceiling

Look inside your ceiling cavity if possible. Is the cause of the water immediately obvious? You might notice damage to your actual roof which has allowed rainwater inside. You might also see a leaking or burst pipe. If you live in an apartment building, then of course you won't necessarily have a ceiling cavity to inspect. Go and speak with your upstairs neighbour to inform them of the leak. Contact your building's body corporate management to notify them of the problem.

5. The Damage

If you live in a detached home and can inspect your ceiling cavity, you will then be able to take the appropriate action. Contact an emergency plumber at A and C Plumbing or a similar company if the issue seems to be caused by a pipe. If the plumber cannot come to your property within a timely fashion, you might want to turn off the water supply to your home, via the main shutoff valve. If it seems that the water is coming through from your roof, then you will need to have a roofing contractor repair the damage as soon as possible. You can place a tarpaulin over the damage on your roof (weighted down with bricks) as a short-term solution. Depending on the severity of the water damage, parts of your ceiling might need to be re-plastered.

6. The Cleanup

Once repairs are underway, it's time to clean up any damage. Ensure that your furniture is able to dry properly, and it might be necessary to move it into the sun. Check your carpets. Are they soaking wet? You might wish to contact a carpet cleaning service who can actually suck this water up for you. A dehumidifying unit can also be handy for drying a room, as it extracts moisture from the air.  Depending on the extent of any water damage, it might be necessary to temporarily remove the carpets in order to allow the underlay to dry. Please also contact an electrician to examine any fixtures that might have been damaged by the water.

Hopefully you will never have to deal with water dripping from your ceiling, but if you do, it's important to know what to do.