A sagging or dripping ceiling. Get out from under it and drain it.
Wet drywall holds gallons and lets go without warning, and the water is heading for the light fixture.
What is probably happening
- A supply line, drain, tub or toilet above is leaking, or a roof leak has filled the ceiling cavity. Steady dripping usually means a supply line still running.
- The drywall is holding a pool of water. Draining it through a small hole is safer than letting it choose where to fall.
- Insulation above the ceiling is likely soaked, and it will not dry in place.
Do this in the next five minutes
- Kill the breaker for that room's ceiling light.
- Put a bucket and a tarp or trash bags on the floor under the sag.
- From the side, not underneath, push a screwdriver or nail into the lowest point of the bulge to let it drain into the bucket.
- If a bathroom or laundry is above, shut the water off at the fixture, or close the main.
- Move furniture and electronics out of the room.
- Photograph it, then call a plumber if it is plumbing above, or restoration if the source is already stopped.
Do not
- Do not cut a big opening in a ceiling that is holding water. Drain it first.
- Do not turn the ceiling light back on until an electrician or the restoration company has confirmed the box is dry.
- Do not leave a bulging ceiling overnight to deal with in the morning.
Who to call
A licensed plumber
A steadily dripping ceiling under a wet room means a pipe or fixture is still leaking. Stop that first; the drying and drywall come after.
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What it should cost
$450 to $1,600
Water-damaged ceiling repair range. Plumbing repair and drying are on top.
Source: Angi, water damage restoration cost, updated September 2026. View source
National published range, not a quote for your job. The full cost table for this trade is on the plumbing page.
Ask this contractor, on the phone, before anyone comes out
Tap each one as you ask it.
- Will you open the ceiling to find the source, or work from above?
- Is it a supply line, a drain or a fixture seal, and did you test it after the repair?
- Will you pull the wet insulation, and who handles the drywall afterwards?
- Will someone check the light box and wiring before the circuit goes back on?
End the call if
- A plumber who repairs a pipe without opening the ceiling to see it.
- A ceiling patched closed the same day with wet insulation still above it.
- Full payment up front.