Water in Light Fixtures? Safety First!

12/19/2018 (Permalink)

Water in a light fixture in a St.Charles home

Unless you live in a clam shell in Triton’s kingdom under the sea, you shouldn’t see water in your light fixtures. When your home is in St. Charles,IL, water in such a place is a dangerous problem that needs to be addressed quickly. Here are some important things to do to resolve the problem and prevent further damage.

Stay Safe

When it comes to water in a light fixture, your first step is safety. Here are three things to do to keep everyone safe:

1. Turn off electricity. Throw the breakers for the affected locations. If you are in doubt, turn off power to the whole house before proceeding.

2. Cordon off unsafe areas. You may have some ceiling damage, so look for sagging ceilings or stains to indicate its location and take caution until you find the source of the leak. Prevent children and other family members from being under or above the damaged area.

3. Stop the leak. Finding the leak may be a challenge, but once you have the electricity off, you can proceed without risk of electrocution. Turn off the water supply to prevent further damage until you can repair the source of the leak.

Prevent Secondary Damage

A sneaky ceiling leak causes a lot of damage. You may need a professional for help with structural and electrical repairs, and prevention of subsequent damage is key. Water-damaged household materials are a prime breeding ground for mold. This is a key point of recovery when a professional flood remediator can save you time and money by working quickly to either remove materials or dry those that can be salvaged.

Act Fast

Keep in mind that mold starts to develop fast, in as few as 48 hours. Prompt and thorough action is key to minimizing damage. Remember that safety is the first step whenever you have water in a light fixture or flood damage in a ceiling.