
Wet ceiling?
Find the cause.
A wet patch is only the part you can see. Work out what needs attention—and when a hidden leak needs a specialist.
Use the ceiling checkerThink you have a leak?
Talk to ADI Leak Detection.
Specialist investigation can help locate concealed leaks using appropriate non-invasive tests. Some faults still need access through a floor or ceiling.
Call 0333 567 2643Monday–Friday, 7:30am–6:30pm
Common causes of a wet ceiling
StainingA brown or yellow patch
New, growing or returning? Understand what a stain can—and can’t—tell you.
Rain-linked dampnessWorse when it rains
Look at the timing before assuming the water is coming from a pipe.
Condensation cluesMould in the corners
Cold surfaces and moist air can leave a different pattern of ceiling dampness.
The stain is the end
of the story.
See one way a concealed pipe leak can reach a ceiling. Select a stage to follow the water.
A small fault above. A visible problem below.
A failed pipe joint is one possible source. Water may first escape inside a floor, beyond the room you can see.
When you can’t see the leak
Ceiling leak detection
with ADI.
A hidden leak can sit behind a bathroom, within a floor or along concealed pipework. Covering the stain won’t resolve an ongoing escape of water.
ADI combines observations with appropriate tests to investigate where water is coming from. The approach depends on the property and the suspected source.
How ceiling leak detection worksMap the affected area
Moisture readings and thermal patterns help guide further checks.
Investigate the source
Suitable pressure, tracer gas or visual tests help distinguish possible faults.
Agree the next steps
Discuss findings, any access needed, and what repair or drying work follows.

A real ceiling investigation
The stain was below.
The fault was hidden.
In a Warwick property, ADI investigated kitchen ceiling staining and traced the main leak to a condensate pipe elbow. It’s a useful example of why the visible damage alone doesn’t identify the source.
Read what the investigation foundMore ceiling leak investigations

Kilmarnock
A hallway ceiling leak traced beneath the bath
Water reaching a downstairs hallway was traced to a cracked copper pipe under the bathroom floor.
Read the case study
Irvine
A kitchen ceiling that leaked when the shower ran
Dye testing connected an intermittent kitchen ceiling drip to a leaking shower waste fitting upstairs.
Read the case study
Haywards Heath
A ceiling leak traced to a cylinder overflow pipe
Kitchen ceiling damage led to an overflow waste connection where debris was preventing a proper seal.
Read the case studyCeiling leaks, in our customers’ words
Selected excerpts from ADI Leak Detection reviews on Trustpilot.
We noticed some damp patches on a ceiling so contacted ADI. … Excellent service, highly recommended and would definitely use again if needs be
Hamaad detected a leak in my bathroom pipework which was threatening my kitchen ceiling below, got the parts and fixed the problem.
I had a leaking issue at my property which caused damage to my ceiling. … He is friendly, kind & very knowledgeable.
Before you repair or redecorate
Stop the source.
Then restore the ceiling.
Read the guides that match your situation, from water coming through a flat’s ceiling to drying out after the cause has been fixed.
Explore all ceiling guidesCommon questions
Wet ceiling questions
answered.
Clear answers to the things people ask about wet ceilings and concealed leaks.
When the source is still a mystery
Let’s find out where
the water is coming from.
Tell ADI where the patch is, when it appeared and what you’ve already checked. The team can explain the next steps for a leak investigation.
0333 567 2643
Calls go directly to ADI Leak Detection
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30am–6:30pmSaturday & Sunday closedWhat to have ready
Wet Ceiling, by ADI Leak Detection
We focus on the questions that come with a wet ceiling. Wet Ceiling is a specialist service from ADI Leak Detection, so if you choose to enquire about an investigation, your call goes directly to ADI. Our guides explain alternative causes as well as hidden leaks.
About Wet Ceiling