Make it safe
- 1
Clear the room below
Move people, pets, electronics and furniture out from under the wet area.
- 2
Kill the power to that room
Turn off the breaker for any light or fan in the wet ceiling, from a dry spot.
- 3
Catch the water
Buckets and towels under drips. Plastic sheeting over anything you cannot move.
- 4
Find the source if you can
Check whether the AC is running, an upstairs fixture is in use, or it is raining.
- 5
Call
Say whether the ceiling is bulging and whether water is still coming.
Likely sources in Richardson homes
| Source | Clue |
|---|---|
| AC condensate line or drain pan in the attic | Only leaks while the AC runs, worst in summer |
| Attic supply line | Steady drip, may follow a freeze |
| Roof or flashing | Only during or after rain |
| Upstairs bath or laundry | Stain under a tub, toilet or washer, worse after use |
| Water heater in the attic | Wet ceiling near the unit, rust or water in its pan |
Ceiling leak questions
If the leak only happens while the AC runs, yes. Turn it off at the thermostat until the drain line or pan is checked.
Sometimes, if it was clean water and it is dried quickly. Sagging or crumbling drywall is usually cut out.
Yes. Insulation above a ceiling holds water for a long time, so the attic side needs to be checked and dried, not just the room below.
Answered 24/7 · No obligation
Water coming through the ceiling?
Clear the room, then call. Answered 24/7.
Water Damage Richardson is a call-in referral service. Your call is connected to an independent local contractor who speaks with you on that call; we do not perform the work ourselves.
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