Water Dripping From a Light Fixture? What to Do Right Now
Water coming out of a ceiling light is an electrical problem before it's a water problem. Here are the steps for the next ten minutes, what not to touch, and how to work out where the water is coming from.
Turn off the breaker for that light, or the main if you can't tell which. Don't touch the fixture or switch. Put a bucket on the floor below and keep people away. Stop the water if you know the source. If you smell burning or see sparks, leave the power off and call 911. Then have the source found and the fixture checked before it's used again.
The next ten minutes
- Breaker off. At the panel, not the wall switch. Labeled breakers make this quick; if yours aren't labeled and water is spreading, turn off the main.
- Hands off the fixture and switch. Don't remove the cover, wipe the fixture or try to drain it.
- Catch the water from a distance. A bucket on the floor, towels around it. Move rugs, electronics and furniture.
- Keep people and pets out, especially if the ceiling around the light is bulging.
- Stop the water if you can. Turn off the fixture upstairs, the water to a toilet or sink, the main water valve, or the AC at the thermostat.
- Take photos of the fixture, the ceiling and the room.
Call 911 if you see sparks, smoke or scorch marks, smell burning, or a breaker won't stay off. Don't reset a breaker on a wet circuit.
What not to do
- Flip the wall switch to "see if it still works"
- Stand on a ladder under a dripping, live fixture
- Poke a hole next to the light while the power is on
- Reset a tripped breaker before the fixture has dried and been checked
- Close it up and paint over the stain once it dries
Why water comes out of lights
A light fixture is mounted to an electrical box set into a hole in the drywall. When water reaches the top of the ceiling, from a roof leak, a pipe or an AC overflow, it spreads along the drywall and the joists until it finds the lowest opening. Recessed cans are open holes, so they drain especially easily.
| When it drips | Likely source |
|---|---|
| During or after rain, top floor | Roof, flashing, skylight or vent |
| After showers or flushing upstairs | Bathroom plumbing |
| Hot days, near the attic unit | AC condensate line or pan |
| All the time | A supply pipe |
| Bath fan grille after long showers | Condensation in the fan duct |
What happens next
Once it's safe, three things need to happen in order: find and stop the source, dry the ceiling cavity around the fixture, and have the fixture, box and wiring checked or replaced by an electrician before the circuit goes back on. Then the drywall around the fixture is repaired and repainted.
The light fixture water damage repair service handles the source, the drying and the ceiling, and schedules the electrical check while the ceiling is open.
Water from a light fixture: questions
Safety, breakers and what's causing it.
Is water dripping from a light fixture dangerous?
Yes. Water and electricity together can cause shocks, short circuits and, in the worst case, a fire. Turn off the circuit at the breaker before doing anything else, and don't touch the fixture or the wall switch.
Should I turn off the main breaker?
If you can identify the breaker for that light, turn off just that one. If you can't tell which it is and water is spreading, turn off the main breaker. Use a flashlight, and keep your hands and feet dry when you're at the panel.
Can I just remove the light cover to drain the water?
No, not with the power on, and preferably not at all until the fixture has dried and been checked. Glass shades can hold a surprising amount of water and be heavy and slippery.
Why does water come out of the light and not the ceiling?
The fixture's electrical box is a hole in the drywall. Water spreading across the top of the ceiling finds the opening and drains through it. The light isn't the source; it's the exit.
Is it safe to use the light once it dries?
Not until the fixture, box and wiring have been inspected. Water can leave corrosion and residue that cause problems later. Wet fixtures are often replaced.
Water came out of a light after rain. Is it the roof?
Very likely, if it's a top-floor ceiling. After rain, water through a light usually means a roof, flashing, skylight or vent leak above. If there's a bathroom above, run its fixtures to rule out plumbing.