If you have a spot in your ceiling that is becoming discolored due to an underlying leak or is even dripping water, think of this as an emergency situation. If you let a leak continue, it can cause all sorts of problems from structural damage to mold growth. Pretending it’s not there won’t help, so take action now. Of course, hiring a contractor to identify the source and fix the leaks is the easiest way to handle the problem, but if you want to take a crack at it yourself, here are some things you can do.


Step 1: First, try to identify the source of the problem. If the leak is in the top floor and far from any bathrooms, then there’s a good chance that you have a roof leak that needs to be patched. If the ceiling leak is below a bathroom, then you probably have a leaky pipe somewhere.

Step 2: In the event that you don’t think the leak is coming from the roof, go to the kitchen or bathroom that you think is the source of the problem and check for leaks under the sinks and around the shower or toilet. Are there wet spots? If so, you’ve found your leak and it should be easily fixed. If not, then the problem is probably with the pipes inside the wall, which is bad news.

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