Step by step
Stop the source
Close the fixture valve or unit shutoff, or alert building staff so they can stop water from above.
Clear the room
Remove people and, only if it is safe to reach them, valuables near the edges of the room. Do not reach under the bulge.
Cut power to the area
Recessed lights, ceiling fans and smoke detectors in a wet ceiling can short. Turn off those circuits.
Set out containers and plastic
Place buckets and plastic sheeting where water is dripping, working from the room's edges.
Photograph from a distance
Capture the bulge, staining and any drips before anything changes.
Get professional help to open it
A restoration technician can drain and remove the wet section in a controlled way, with containment and equipment ready.
About poking a hole to drain it
A common piece of advice is to puncture a water-filled ceiling bubble to let the water out into a bucket. In some situations that does relieve weight and limit spread, and restorers sometimes do exactly that. The risk is that a soaked drywall ceiling can be weaker than it looks. The board can tear open around the hole, and a large panel can drop along with the water, insulation and debris.
If you are considering it, the safer version is to stand well to the side, use a long-handled tool rather than a ladder under the bulge, and have a large container and plastic in place. If the bulge is large, if the ceiling is old plaster, or if there is any light fixture or wiring nearby, leave it to someone with experience. Plaster ceilings are heavy, and a failing section can bring down more than you expect.
In multi-unit buildings, water pooled above a ceiling may still be feeding in from another unit. Draining it before the source is stopped can just make room for more water. Confirm the source is off first.
What usually happens to the ceiling
- IfDrywall is stained but flat and firm, from clean waterThenIt can often be dried in place with airflow and dehumidification, then sealed and painted.
- IfDrywall is sagging, soft or crumblingThenThe wet section is usually cut out, the cavity dried, and new drywall installed.
- IfInsulation above the ceiling is soakedThenWet batt or loose-fill insulation is typically removed because it holds water and compresses.
- IfThe water came from a toilet, drain or sewer lineThenAffected ceiling materials are generally removed rather than dried, with protective measures during removal.
General information for Cherry Creek, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.