Has a Burst Pipe Caused a Water Leak Through the Ceiling?

If you’ve noticed water dripping from your ceiling, you must act swiftly to secure the situation. Ceiling leaks can be hazardous because they can lead to severe property damage and significant health risks. The quicker you act, the less damage a water leak from the ceiling can cause.

There are several explanations for a ceiling leak, the most common  are:

• The property structure is old and therefore more susceptible to faults.
• Severe weather conditions such as storms can damage your property and allow external water to leak through.
• Issues with your internal plumbing system, such as leaking or burst pipes.

The Risks Burst Pipes Can Cause

If a burst pipe has caused a water leak in your ceiling it needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. Failure to do so can lead to several problems and dangerous situations, such as:

• The risk of electrocution. You must not touch electrical appliances where the ceiling leak is.
• Electrical wires may become corroded. If your electrical wires become damaged, this can lead to further issues later on.
• Risk of an electrical fire due to water causing sparks of electricity.
• A ceiling collapse.

What Should You Do If Water from a Burst Pipe Causes a Ceiling Leak?

If water is dripping from your ceiling, there are a few measures you can take to mitigate the impact on your property and the other occupants.

• First, turn off your property’s electrical supply. Locate your circuit breaker box and turn the disconnect switch into the off position. Ensure that you do not touch any electrical appliances within the room where the leak has occurred and notify all other occupants to avoid any electrical sources until the issue is dealt with.
• Next, you should consider whether you need to shut off your property’s water supply. If the water seeping through the ceiling is caused by a pipe burst, you must locate your internal stop tap and turn it off. Read our blog for more information on what your internal stop tap looks like, where it’s located and how to turn off the water supply in your home.
• Valuable items and furniture from the room in question as these could become damaged if the ceiling collapses.

How to Mitigate a Ceiling Collapse

If there is a prominent bulge in the ceiling, this indicates that it’s at risk of collapsing. The best cause of action to take here is to use a screwdriver to make a small 10 – 20 mm hole where the water is leaking. Place a bucket or washbowl underneath the hole to ensure water doesn’t leak onto your floor.

Rather than allowing your ceiling to collapse, this course of action can help save extensive damage to your property that will be expensive and time-consuming to fix.

Contact a Burst Pipe Repair Specialist

At Metro Plumb, we’ve got a team of expert plumbers readily available, day and night, to support you with all your emergency plumbing needs. If you suspect you have a burst pipe or you have noticed water coming through your ceiling, contact Metro Plumb.

Find your local Metro Plumb by visiting our find a local plumber page.