It depends on the leak. Treat it as urgent if water is actively pouring in, if it is near electrical (a light fixture, an outlet, or the panel), if a ceiling is bulging with trapped water, or if a large area is soaking. A slow drip during a storm that stops when the rain stops is a real problem but not an emergency, and can be handled in the next few days. Either way, the leak needs fixing, since even a small one gets worse the longer it goes.
A few situations call for same-day action. Water running near any electrical fixture or the panel is a safety issue, so kill power to that area if you can do it safely and keep clear. A ceiling that is sagging or bulging is holding a pocket of water that can let go all at once, so put a bucket under it and, if you know how, relieve it with a small hole at the low point. Water pouring in during a storm, or covering a wide area of ceiling, means the roof has a real opening that is letting a lot through.
In those cases, the priority is protecting the inside while the roof gets addressed. Our emergency roof repair and roof repair pages cover the fix, and leak detection pins the source once the active risk is handled.
| Situation | How urgent |
|---|---|
| Water near electrical | Urgent, safety first |
| Ceiling bulging with water | Urgent |
| Active pour during a storm | Urgent |
| Slow drip that stops after rain | Soon, not an emergency |
| Old stain, no active water | Get it checked, plan a repair |
Move furniture and valuables out from under the drip and put down a bucket and towels. If a ceiling is bulging, relieve the water at the low point into a bucket so it does not collapse. Photograph everything for your records, which helps if you file a claim, as our insurance claim support page explains. Then get the roof looked at, since a leak never fixes itself, and our page on delaying a repair shows why. A roof inspection finds the source so the fix is the right one.
Call (310) 806-5959 during business hours or request an estimate below.
Tell us what the water is doing. We find the source and give you a written price, with no obligation.