Water Damage

• If enough water has saturated the ceiling in your house to the point that the drywall has become warped, you need to take immediate action to correct the damage. You must cut out the damaged section of drywall, since paint will not cover up the damage, and then patch in a new section of drywall to fit the hole left from the damage. While you have a hole in the ceiling, inspect the sub floor between the ceiling and the floor above for more damage and even the possibility of mold growing from the moisture.
  
  

Tracking the Source

• If you suspect a faulty faucet has caused the water damage on your ceiling, you need to trace the source of the water to confirm your suspicions. Just because the water damage sits directly below a plumbing fixture on the floor above does not mean that plumbing fixture is the source of the leak. Leaking water may run along floor joists, electrical cords, or other surfaces in the sub floor before dripping to the ceiling below. Inspecting the sub floor with a flashlight helps you see the pathway of water damage and pinpoint the offending plumbing fixture.
  
  

Supply Pipes or Drainpipes

• Once you have narrowed down what plumbing fixture is the source of the leak, you need to determine if the faucet or the water supply pipes are causing the leak, or if the source involves the drainpipes. You may be able to see a clear path of water damage from one or the other in the plumbing fixture, but if not, a bucket or other container helps narrow down the source. By running the fixture’s faucet and capturing the water in a container, you can see if the leaking continues, indicating that the problem lies with either the faucet or water supply pipes.
  
  

Repair

• Fixing leaking water supply pipes may require the expertise of a plumber, since water supply pipes have welded connections. Drainpipes, on the other hand, have nuts that connect the different portions of the pipes. Tighten the leaking drainpipe connections an eighth of a turn at a time. Using pipe tape on the drainpipe connections also helps prevent future leaking.