Is it an emergency
A sagging or bulging ceiling is holding water. Keep people and pets out from under it. Turn off power to any light or fan in the wet area if you can reach the breaker from a dry spot. Put a bucket under drips and move what you can. A dry stain with no drip is not an emergency, but the source still needs finding.
Read the timing
| When it leaks | Likely source | Who fixes the source |
|---|---|---|
| During or after rain | Roof, flashing, vents, scuppers | Roofer |
| When a shower, tub or toilet upstairs is used | Drain, pan or supply line | Plumber |
| Hot afternoons with the AC on | AC condensate drain or pan in the attic | HVAC tech |
| All the time | Pressurized supply line | Plumber, shut the water off now |
Monsoon roofs
The Regional Flood Control District names July through September as the monsoon months, with sudden downpours even on sunny days. Roofs that were fine all year can leak in one hard storm. Take photos of the ceiling and, only if it is safe, of the roof from the ground. Write down the date and time. That detail matters if you file a claim.
Stain or mold
A water stain is usually a ring with a tan or brown edge. Mold tends to look fuzzy or spotted and can be black, green or gray, and it often smells musty. If a stain keeps growing or comes back after paint, the ceiling is still getting wet or still is wet.
What gets replaced
- Wet attic insulation over the leak.
- Drywall that sagged or stayed wet.
- Texture and paint, blended to match.
A small stain from a short drip can often be dried, sealed with a stain blocking primer and painted. A meter reading on the ceiling tells you which you have.