Why is water coming through my ceiling?

Safety first

1. Cut power to the room at the breaker, since water and live wiring above a ceiling are a shock hazard.
2. Shut the main water supply if you suspect plumbing rather than the roof or AC.
3. Drain a sagging, water-filled ceiling from the side with a small puncture into a bucket, rather than letting it collapse on its own.
4. Move furniture and valuables out from under the wet area.

Narrowing the source, ranked by likelihood

• During or right after rain → roof, flashing, or a window/door leak
• Whenever the AC runs, regardless of weather → clogged condensate line or an overflowing drain pan
• Shortly after showers, laundry, or a dishwasher cycle above → a drain line or fixture connection
• Continuous or worsening regardless of use → a pressurized supply line, which won't stop on its own

Urgent vs. can wait

A small, isolated stain that isn't growing and appeared once after a heavy storm can often wait for a scheduled roof inspection. An active drip, a spreading stain, or a ceiling that feels soft or is sagging needs same-day attention — a sagging ceiling can fail suddenly.

What a professional checks

A plumber traces visible plumbing runs and pressure-tests suspect lines; an HVAC technician checks the condensate line, pan, and drain for clogs and float-switch function; a roofer inspects flashing, shingles, and penetrations from the exterior. Because the actual water can travel sideways along a joist before dripping through drywall, the drip point on the ceiling is often not directly below the real source.

South Florida notes

With air conditioning running nearly year-round in South Florida, condensate line clogs from algae and dust buildup are one of the most frequent ceiling-leak causes here, not just storm-driven roof leaks. During hurricane season, wind-driven rain can also force water in through intact-looking shingles or tile, so a leak that only appears in high wind is worth a roofer's inspection even if the roof looks fine from the ground.