Water through a ceiling can come from a pipe, bathroom, tank, appliance or the roof. The first job is not to find the perfect diagnosis. It is to keep people away from danger, stop more water where that can be done safely and give the right trade clear information.
Keep away from wet lights, sockets, switches and a wet consumer unit. Do not touch electrical fittings or stand in water to reach a switch. If it is safe to reach the main switch without entering the wet area, isolate the supply; otherwise move away and call for urgent help.
The first ten minutes
Move people, pets and movable belongings away. A bowed ceiling can release water and plaster without warning.
Place a bucket or waterproof container below it only if the ceiling is stable and there are no electrical hazards.
Stop using bathrooms or appliances above. If it is a supply leak, close the local isolation valve or main stopcock without forcing it.
Photograph the ceiling, the room above and any affected possessions for the contractor and your insurer.
Do not stand under a bulging ceiling
A sagging or swollen ceiling may be holding a surprising amount of water. Keep the room clear. Do not climb a ladder beneath it, press the bulge or puncture it if electrical wiring may be present. A professional can assess how to drain and make it safe.
Is it a plumber or a roofer?
- Likely plumbing
- The leak follows use of a bath, shower, toilet, radiator, boiler or appliance, or it continues in dry weather.
- Likely roofing
- It starts or worsens during rain, sits below a roof, chimney, valley or flat-roof edge, or follows recent wind damage.
- Not obvious
- Turn off likely water sources, note the weather and send photos. A plumber can test internal services; a roofer can inspect the external covering safely.
Information that speeds up the callout
- The full postcode and which room is affected
- Whether it is raining and whether the leak changes with bathroom or appliance use
- Whether the water is clean, discoloured or contaminated
- Whether lights, sockets or wiring are wet
- Whether the ceiling is stained, cracked, sagging or actively dripping
- Photos of the ceiling and the room or fitting directly above
What happens after the source is stopped
Stopping the drip is only the first part. Wet insulation, plasterboard and timber need checking and drying, and the original fault needs a permanent repair. Keep photographs and invoices, ventilate only when it is safe, and do not redecorate until the structure is dry.
If the source is inside the home, start with our stopcock guide and get an emergency plumber on the way. If rain is driving it, use the roof-leak guide and request an emergency roofer.