First 10 minutes
Put a bucket under the drip, move furniture, and — if the ceiling is bulging — carefully poke a small hole in the lowest point to let the water out before the drywall collapses. Turn off the main water valve if you suspect a pipe.
Pipe leak or roof leak?
If it drips when no one is using water and it's raining, suspect the roof. If it starts after someone showers, flushes or runs the washer, it's plumbing. Bathroom plumbing above a kitchen ceiling is the classic culprit.
Common plumbing sources
Failed toilet wax rings, leaking shower pans and valves, loose tub drains, pinhole leaks in copper and sweating or burst supply lines all show up as ceiling stains.
Why speed matters
Wet drywall and insulation grow mold within 48 hours. Professional leak detection finds the source without tearing out whole ceilings, and prompt repair keeps a small claim from becoming a big one.
Need a plumber for this?
MGA Plumbing provides water leak repair 24/7 in every Missouri city — Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Columbia and hundreds more. Upfront pricing, same-day service. Call (888) 480-9811.