How to keep yourself and your family safe when you recognize this urgent problem.
Water leaking through your ceiling is never a good sign. However, water leaking through one of your lighting fixtures isn’t just inconvenient – it’s a potentially dangerous situation that you must address immediately.
Once you’ve ensured everyone in the household knows to stay away from the fixtures and any light switches, your first step should be to call Honest Air Conditioning And Plumbing LLC. However, you can do a few things before the plumber arrives to protect yourself and your family. We cover how leaky lighting fixtures happen and what to do about them below, answering your most frequently asked – and urgent – questions.
Why Does Water Leak from Lighting Fixtures?
Water might leak from your lighting fixtures for the same reasons your ceiling might leak in general: a weak spot in your roof, a leaking plumbing pipe, or fixture.
Heavy rain and powerful winds can cause damage to your roof and eventually lead to leaks. Staying on top of regular roof maintenance and promptly taking care of minor repairs will prevent water from leaking through any part of your ceiling – including the light fixtures.
faulty pipes, leaky drains, loose toilets are common causes of water leaking into a light fixture. Unfortunately, a burst pipe, which is the most extreme example of water leakage, can be a hard scenario to prevent because it can be caused by a wide variety of unpredictable factors. Regardless, it’s good to keep in mind that pipes can be by lighting fixtures in the walls. If the water comes out in a steady stream or the leak is located under a plumbing fixture, its source is likely a plumbing issue.
Why Is This Situation So Dangerous?
We don’t think we have to tell you why water and electricity don’t mix. However, we want to be clear about what makes a leaky lighting fixture so dangerous.
The most obvious safety hazard is electrocution. Water acts as a conduit for electricity, so you should completely avoid any electrical source that comes into contact with water. Electrical shocks are serious, painful, and potentially deadly.
Water in lighting fixtures can also start an electrical fire. You should call emergency services for help right away if you notice smoke and water leaking through your lighting fixture. However – smoke or no smoke – you should call a plumber as soon as you see water coming through lighting fixtures.
What Can You Do Before the Plumber Arrives?
By taking a few simple steps, you can dramatically reduce the risk of an electrical fire or an injury. And your efforts will help the plumbing contractor get to work faster.
Before the plumber arrives, you should turn off your electricity and water supply. Be sure to turn off your electricity at the breaker box for that light fixture – don’t just turn off the light switch. In fact, you shouldn’t touch the light switch at all. Contact with the light switch might result in an electric shock. We also recommend shutting off homeowner shut off value for the water supply at your outside water meter. If you cannot locate this prior, your local municipality water supplier (who you pay your water bill too) can come out and turn it off for your, in most cases, for free.
Is a Ceiling Leak Covered by My Homeowner’s Insurance?
The only way to know whether your homeowner’s insurance will cover this event is by reviewing your policy or contacting your agent. You can count on the plumbing contractors at Honest Air Conditioning And Plumbing LLC. to help the insurance adjuster with any questions.
Call Us to Take Care of Your Plumbing Emergency
Plumbing emergencies are serious business. When they happen, you need to take quick action to prevent long-term or even permanent damage to your property, to say nothing of injuries to people. That’s why everyone should have the number of a trusted plumbing professional like Honest Air Conditioning And Plumbing LLC.
Our reputable company has been proudly serving Austin, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Hutto, Leander, Pflugerville, and Round Rock, TX since 2013. Give us a call or request service using our contact form. We look forward to earning your loyalty with superior customer service and high-quality work.
