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Most people happily ignore their ceilings, but when they are sitting on the first-floor and feel a drip hit their head suddenly their attention is focused upwards. Ceiling leaks are a huge problem because not only can they lead to a discolored and ugly ceiling, but they indicate you have a plumbing issue that needs to be remedied immediately. You don’t want to mess around with a ceiling leak because it can compromise the safety of your home and eventually lead to your ceiling rotting out. Unless you want your bathtub relocated into the center of your living room, you need to call a plumber in Fernandina, FL.
The good news is there are a few things you can do to stop the destruction from getting any worse while you wait for the professional to show up at your house. Knowing what to do once you notice a ceiling leak is the first step towards effectively stopping the problem. Not every ceiling leak has to result in panic, but they are not something that you should ignore either. Here is a quick guide to troubleshooting ceiling leaks and understanding why they happen while you wait for the plumbing company to show up.
Signs of a Ceiling Leak
If you haven’t spent a lot of time looking up at your ceiling, now is a good time to do so. There are a lot of signs of a leak that you can spot pretty easily if you know what you are looking for. For instance, you can look for areas of discoloration, watermarks, or blistering paint. Paint that is only peeling or bubbling in one area of your ceiling is a clear sign that you have a leak buried under your ceiling.
It is not uncommon for leaks to be hidden for a long period of time before they start to show signs, so once you start to notice any outward signs it is time to take action and call a plumber. A lot of people figure they have a while since they just noticed it, but most likely the leak did not just happen. It probably happened months ago, but the leak has finally gotten bad enough that you are just seeing it now.
How to Get Ready for the Plumbing Company
If you have already called a professional about your ceiling leak, you may be wondering if there is anything you can do to address the issue while you wait. The simple answer is always yes. While you may not be able to look under your ceiling and see what is causing the leak, you can do a couple of things to guard against further property damage while waiting for the plumber to show up.
First of all, clear the area where the leak is coming from by removing all furniture and personal belongings from around it. Keep in mind that just because the leak is in one spot doesn’t mean it won’t grow as time goes on, so make sure you clear out a large radius to protect everything within touching distance. In addition, check to make sure that you don’t have any electronics near the leak such as plugged-in lamps, phones, or tablets. If you do have an electrical outlet that is in line with the leak consider turning off the circuit breaker for that room until the plumber gets there to investigate.
Clearing out the area is also helpful to the professional since they will now have plenty of space to work in the area. They will usually need to fit a step stool or a ladder into the working area depending on the height of your ceilings, so it can be extremely helpful to have a room cleared out before their arrival.
Once the room is clear, make sure to put a bucket under it to catch the leak. This will prevent your flooring from becoming the next victim of the leak. With any luck, you can contain the water damage to the ceiling which will save you a lot of money in the long run. It will also give you and the plumber a good idea of how much water is leaking which can help with troubleshooting.
Common Causes of Ceiling Leaks
Wondering what may be causing your ceiling leak while you are waiting for the plumber to show up? There are few common culprits that you may be able to stop using while you wait to help minimize the amount of damage that is done. For instance, toilet leaks often come from the supply tank and as a result of a worn wax ring. The wax ring sits around the base of the toilet and stops leaks, but when it starts to wear out water can get around it after flushing causing it to seep through your ceiling. If this is the case, don’t use the toilet until the plumber gets there if you have a second toilet in your home.
Other common issues are ceiling leaks or sink links as a result of tile or flooring start to peel or curl near the shower area. A curled-up tile on the floor may be all it takes for the shower water to leak through. If you notice that the leak only starts before or after using the shower and/or sink this is a clear sign that it stems from this fixture and you need to quit using it until you see the plumber.
Contact a Fernandina, FL Plumbing Company for Help with a Ceiling Leak
Ceiling leaks are not something that you want to play around with. If you notice a ceiling leak call a local plumber who can get to the bottom of the issue right away. Bert Norman’s Plumbing of Fernandina, FL has helped many locals with their ceiling leaks, and we would be happy and come out to help troubleshoot your issue.