What to do right now
- Shut off the water. Close the main shut-off valve. On a private well, turn off the well pump breaker too.
- Stay safe around electricity. If water is near light fixtures or outlets, turn off power to that area at the breaker, if you can reach it safely.
- Contain the water. Put buckets and towels under the leak, and move furniture and belongings out of the way.
- Watch for a bulging ceiling. A sagging, water-filled ceiling can come down. Keep people away from it.
- Take photos. Photos of the damage help with an insurance claim.
Plumbing leak or roof leak?
Pahrump gets around 5 inches of rain a year, so most ceiling leaks here come from plumbing.
| When it leaks | Likely source |
|---|---|
| Only when it's raining | The roof. Call a roofer. |
| When a sink, tub, shower, or toilet above is used | A drain, fixture seal, or shower pan. |
| All the time, even with nothing running | A water supply line. |
| Under a bathroom | A toilet seal, tub drain, or shower pan. See tub and shower repair. |
| In a single-story home | A supply line, water heater, or evaporative cooler line in the attic. |
Who to call
If the leak is from plumbing, call a plumber first to stop the water and repair the source. ASC Plumbing offers 24/7 emergency plumbing and leak detection when the source isn't obvious. For soaked drywall, insulation, or flooring, a water damage restoration company can dry the area out.