Why Is Water Leaking From the Light Fixture?

10/12/2018 (Permalink)

Water leaking from a light fixture in a Santa Maria,CA home

If you find yourself asking this question, you face a serious problem. Water in a light fixture means that a pool of water has formed above your ceiling and found its way to the fixture. This problem has three likely causes.

• Your home is damaged and is allowing rainwater to enter.
• Plumbing in the ceiling above the light fixture has failed.
• A flood in an upstairs bathroom has found its way to the ceiling of the floor below.

Is There a Risk of Electrocution?

The combination of water and electricity can be a recipe for disaster. If you plan on working with any electrical devices on that ceiling, make sure that you shut the power off at the electric panel first.

Is There a Risk of Fire?
When you find water in a light fixture, it’s easy to imagine that everything above the ceiling is wet and incapable of catching fire. This is not necessarily true. If the water has been above the ceiling for a while, it is possible for the electrical contacts to become corroded, making them more susceptible to sparking. Because of this, the best approach would be to turn off the power at the electric panel and leave it off until the ceiling damage is repaired, and the electrical fixtures and wiring are inspected.

How Does the Damage Get Repaired?
Seeing water in a fixture does not indicate the severity of the problem. The only way to know is to tear out the ceiling starting at the fixture. Continue until all wet material is removed and all wet support beams are exposed. Damaged electrical components like wire, fixtures, junction boxes and switches will also need to be removed.

How Do I Find Someone Qualified to Do the Job?
In Santa Maria, CA, you can find a team of water damage remediation experts who can come in and deal with this problem. Once the job is complete, your memory of seeing water in a light fixture will quickly fade.