Water drips through a ceiling because something above it is leaking. The usual suspects are a toilet, tub, or shower on the floor above, a supply or drain pipe running through the ceiling, an upstairs washing machine or dishwasher hose, sweating pipes, or rainwater from the roof. When the drip happens tells you a lot about which one it is.
Watch the Timing
- Starts after someone showers or flushes upstairs: likely a drain or seal
- Drips all day and night: likely a pressurized supply line
- Appears only during or after rain: likely the roof, flashing, or a window
- Shows up in humid weather along a pipe: possibly condensation
Keeping a quick log for a day or two can save a lot of guesswork.
Bathroom Leaks Are the Most Common
A toilet’s wax ring can fail and let water seep under the floor each time it flushes. Grout and caulk around a tub can crack and let shower water slip behind the wall. A loose drain under the tub can leak slowly for months before the stain appears below.
Apartments and Shared Ceilings
If someone lives above you, the source may be in their unit. Talk to them and to building staff early. A photo of the stain each day shows whether it is growing.
Right Now
Put a bucket under the drip and move valuables away. Keep people out from under a ceiling that bulges, since it can hold more water than you think. Stay away from wet light fixtures and turn off that circuit if you can reach the panel safely.
A plumber can track down the upstairs source of the drip and fix it before the ceiling gets worse. Once the leak is fixed, a quick check of the other bathrooms in the house can keep it from happening again. Call JPR Plumbing at (833) 603-1840.