So, you’ve discovered water dripping from a light fixture, or someone you know has. You’re searching the internet for what to do, and according to other chat forums and articles, you just have to turn off the electrical power and call a plumber, and that’s it.
But did you know that those articles and chat forums are missing a couple of crucial steps to fixing this problem correctly? We don’t blame them for not thinking to include these things: they aren’t professionals at cleaning up water damage, after all. But we are!
We’re Cleaner Guys, and we’re a professional water damage cleanup company in rainy Washington State. We have more than 20 years of experience fixing homes and businesses from damage caused by leaks just like yours! And we’re here to tell you that there’s a little more involved in successfully mitigating this problem than just shutting off the electricity, calling a plumber, and calling it a day. Let’s break down ALL the important steps you should be taking to properly deal with this problem.
Table of Contents
- Why Is There Water Dripping from a Light Fixture?
- Is Water Dripping from a Light Fixture or the Ceiling an Emergency?
- The 4 Important Steps to Dealing With Water Dripping from a Light Fixture
- Other Signs of Water Intrusion in Your Ceiling and Walls
- More Resources
Why Is There Water Dripping from a Light Fixture?
Usually, water dripping from a light fixture means that there’s water intrusion inside the ceiling cavity or attic above. Occasionally, it can just be condensation from a very humid environment in the light fixture cavity. But almost always, dripping water from a ceiling light means water intrusion.
The source of a lot of water intruding into the ceiling cavity is most commonly:
- a leaking pipe
- a leaking roof
- a leaking appliance in the room above, like a leaking sink, overflowing toilet, or broken washing machine
Is Water Dripping from a Light Fixture or the Ceiling an Emergency?
Yes, in almost all cases, water dripping from a light fixture or the ceiling should be treated as an emergency! This is because the source of the water is usually a leaking pipe, leaking roof, or leaking appliance in the room above. That water has already soaked through the floor above, the wall cavity in the middle, and is now pooling inside your ceiling so heavily that it’s dripping through the light fixtures.
You’re likely dealing with serious water damage right now, and if you don’t stop it right away, the water saturation will eventually weaken the interior structure of your home or business. It will also likely start growing mold within 48 hours, which can potentially make you very sick.
The 4 Important Steps to Dealing With Water Dripping from a Light Fixture
Google’s “AI Overview”, chat forums, and other articles not written by water damage professionals will tell you that all you have to do now is shut off the electrical power to avoid electrical mishaps, and call a plumber. While those 2 steps are very important, they are not the only steps you should be taking! That information is unfortunately incomplete.
This is understandable because most people on chat forums and writing these other posts are not water damage cleanup professionals. They can’t be expected to know how to properly and efficiently clean up water damage, like the experts do. But we’re here as professionals to tell you that there are more things you can do to get this water intrusion handled quickly and with minimal cost to you. Read on to learn everything you should be doing about water dripping from light fixtures.
1: Shut off the electricity to the house, or at least to the area of water intrusion
The first step you should take when you see water coming out of light fixtures is to shut off the electricity to the area, if possible. This will mitigate even the slight chance of electrocution, which is what can happen when water and electricity mix.
2: Shut off the water to the house, or at least to the area of water intrusion
The second thing you must do is not call a plumber immediately, but first shut off the water to the area, if possible! Since the water intrusion very likely could be from a leaking pipe or appliance, shutting off the water to the area will shut off the water at the point of the leak, too!
If you spend time calling a plumber while the water is still dripping from the light fixtures, you’re just letting the water damage get worse and worse while you talk!
3: Call a plumber
The third thing to do when dealing with ceiling water intrusion is to call a plumber. The source of water is very likely a leaking pipe or a leaking appliance, and a plumber will be able to find the source, and probably fix it!
4: Call a water damage restoration company
The fourth step you should do after finding water dripping from the ceiling or light fixtures is to call a water damage restoration company! This is the step that most people skip or aren’t aware of, and it usually costs them way more money later down the line.
See, a plumber or a roofer can fix the leak that was the source of the water intrusion… but they don’t repair the damage that the water leaves behind inside the ceiling! And you should not just ignore the water damage and hope that it evaporates on its own. In small enclosed spaces like the space inside your ceiling, water does not just completely dry up on its own. When the dripping light fixtures are stopped, and the source of the water is repaired, but the water inside the ceiling is not professionally dried out with special equipment… that water will grow mold, and mold can make you very sick.
We give you this warning because we see people make this mistake all the time. Cleaner Guys also deals with removing and cleaning mold, and very often, that mold is growing in the person’s home because they did not call a water damage restoration company after a water damage incident. Don’t make that mistake! Call a water damage restoration company to make sure that the ceiling is completely dried out, so you don’t have to pay more later to get mold removed.
Other Signs of Water Intrusion in Your Ceiling and Walls
Water dripping from a light fixture is actually not a very common indication of water intrusion. This is because light fixtures are supposed to be well-sealed inside, to prevent moisture from getting in. Typically, water only drips from a light fixture if the sealing in the light fixture is compromised.
But water intrusion and damage in ceilings is very common! There are lots of other signs you can watch for that will alert you to water damage in your ceilings! A few top signs include water stains, dripping or gurgling sounds inside the walls, and musty or moldy odors.
Want to know all the possible signs of water damage in walls, according to water damage experts who actually deal with water damage every day? Check out our full article on our top 10 signs of water damage in walls next!
More Resources
Want more expert information on water damage? Take a look at some of our other popular water-damage-related articles below! Or, jump straight to our full archive of water-damage articles!
How to deal with water damage in an APARTMENT, as a tenant ➜
Is water damage covered by insurance? Learn more here ➜
If you need a water damage restoration company in Western Washington State, Cleaner Guys is one of the highest-rated options around! We’re proud to boast award-winning customer service, lower prices than others, and top-notch workmanship. Contact us today through the menu at the top of your screen, or call us now at (360)757-4300!
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. No part of this article is medical or legal advice, and may not be used as such. For all serious medical matters, consult your doctor. For all serious legal matters, consult your legal advisor. This article contains Cleaner Guys’ experience and opinions only.
