Got the Ceiling Drips?

2/15/2023 (Permalink)

Water dripping from the ceiling is a serious, yet, common problem. Drips in the ceiling turns into water in a light fixture scenario, the situation can quickly become hazardous.  Electricity plus water equals a dangerous combination. To ensure your family’s safety, call in a water mitigation team. While you wait for the team to arrive, there are four steps you can take to help get the job done quickly.

1. Utilities

Make sure the electricity, gas and water are turned off to the area affected by the leak. Water can conduct electricity from an active electrical line, and that can become a very dangerous situation as the current flows through the metal parts of the light fixture.

2. Make Everyone Aware

Announce to everyone in your home that there is water in a light fixture. You should probably also let them know the gas, water, and electricity will be turned off for an unknown number of hours. 

3. Draining

Ceiling damage from water can sometimes pool and cause a protrusion in your ceiling. If that is true in your case, you may consider draining the area. With a bucket in hand, softly pierce the center of the sagging ceiling bulge with an item like a small wooden dowel. Be prepared for a flood of water from the tiny hole.

4. Cleaning

Not only is it important to remove the water from the floor, but you may find it necessary to keep additional water from hitting your newly cleaned surface. Use a bucket to catch the leaking water if it is still dripping, and place towels around as necessary.

If the leaking water in a light fixture fell onto the carpet, you can make a request that your water mitigation team handle the water removal and disinfecting of the flooring area.