Why Do I Have a Water Stain on My Ceiling?

Have you noticed a water stain on your ceiling? Are you wondering if it's a plumbing problem, a roofing issue or something else? Most large problems start out very small, but the sooner you catch them, the more likely you are to avoid very serious damage and expensive repairs. Whenever there's water involved, it's important to act very fast to make sure the problem is addressed before it gets worse.

There are a few reasons water is coming through your ceiling, and not all of them are related to your home's plumbing system.

Is the spot growing due to heavy rain? If so, you probably have an issue with your roof. You may have lost tiles due to high winds, or a vent has lots insulation that's intended to keep the weather out of your house.

Has there been heavy weather? Snow or ice build up will freeze and expand. When it warms up, the ice will melt and leak into the cracks. Blizzards combined with high winds can also cause snow to blow through the ridge vent, which will result in leaks or water spots when the snow melts. While this certainly isn't a common issue in the Inland Empire, it's one cause for water leaks in a ceiling.

If this doesn't sound like what you're dealing with, then it's time to consider plumbing-related problems.

Does the stain seem to grow larger at a specific time of the day? Maybe it grows larger when you go downstairs after your morning shower, or when the entire family gets ready in the morning. If so, the leak may be around your upstairs shower.

Try following the trail through your home to zero in on the root of the problem if you notice the water stain growing in size at a specific time.

Of course, it's always best to call in a professional plumber in Ontario to diagnosis the problem as soon as you notice a water stain. You never know where that trail will lead, or how serious the problem really is, but it's vital that you have it fixed ASAP to avoid problems later. Contact the professionals at Inland Empire Plumbing if you notice water leaks in your home and we'll show up fast and get to the bottom of it!

Do You Understand How Leak Detection Works?

It's true that there are some rare

leaks that are so slow they aren't detected, although many homeowners ignore known leaks, not realizing that even the smallest of leaks can waste thousands of gallons in a single year, and lead to serious and expensive damage. If water is finding a way out, experienced plumbers can use state-of-the-art equipment to find even the most concealed leaks, whether they're behind walls, in an irrigation system, under a concrete slab or asphalt or in the basement, saving you untold thousands in damage and water costs.

Detecting Leaks on Your Own

Many people have leaks without even realizing it. This problem is often revealed through increasing monthly water bills. Sometimes the problem develops over time when a pinhole leak develops into something larger, or it may come on suddenly with a burst pipe.

You may even hear the leak, rather than noticing your bill climbing. If you have copper tubing, you'll probably notice a distinct noise as copper conducts sound very well, while your faucet amplifies the noise.

If you hear a leak or find your water bill is higher than it should be, check all the valves in your home, including the hose faucets and toilets. If it's a toilet running, try turning off the supply stop to see if the sound goes away. Check your home for signs of water damage or moisture, including under the sinks and your water heater.

Isolate the Leak

If you determine on your own that you do have a leak, you can take the extra step of isolating it while you're waiting for a Corona plumber to arrive. Start by turning off your main water cut-off valve, then test it by opening a faucet to reduce pressure and drain the system.

If you hear silence at the faucet, the leak is under your home's floor. You can now control the damage by turning on water only when necessary until the problem is fixed. If the water to your home is shut off but you still hear water running, you probably have a leak in your outside water main.

How a Professional Helps

An expert technician will use a non-invasive leak detection system to locate leaks to save you money and avoid unnecessary damage to your home. Using electronic equipment, even the smallest leak can be accurately pinpointed, versus the old-fashioned trial-and-error method of digging holes in your floor and basement to locate the problem.

Electronic leak detection from the experts at Inland Empire Plumbing will save your home from unnecessary damage that's associated with hunting a leak down with jack hammers and pinpoint the exact location to complete the repairs.
Image: David Dames/Flickr

8 Most Common Plumbing Problems in Riverside



Residential plumbing repair is one of the most common yet annoying issues every homeowner faces at some point, whether it's a clogged drain or a water heater that's starting to leak. The most common problems are actually issues you can fix yourself with a little know-how and the right tools, although most people would rather rely on a local plumber in Riverside to tackle the problem.

Here are the 10 most common household plumbing problems in Riverside that you'll probably face at some point.

1. Clogged drains

Clogged sinks are used so often that it's rather easy for them to become clogged. Sinks in a kitchen clog more often than bathroom sinks as they're involved with preparing food, although the sink in your bathroom can get clogged with hair from shaving. Clogged drains, including clogs in the toilet and shower, can usually be avoided as long as you're careful about what goes down the drain.

2. No hot water

This is the most common reason homeowners call up a plumber and may sometimes be fixed without calling a professional. If you have a gas powered water heater, check to make sure the pilot light is lit. Next, make sure the temperature setting is high enough to give you enough hot water and determine if your water heater is actually big enough for the house. This problem is most common in new homes.

3. Dripping faucet

If the faucet in your bathroom or kitchen is dripping, it may be caused by worn-out washers in the faucet. This is a fairly and affordable fix, although you should take care in the future to avoid turning off your faucet too hard to extend the life of the new washers.

4. Leaking water pipe

This issue can cause a great deal of property damage, whether it's inside the home or underground. Signs of a leak include mold or mildew, standing water in the basement, a warm spot on your floor if your home sits on a slab and unexplained rises in your water or electric bill. Leaking pipes need to be fixed as soon as possible to avoid expensive damage to your foundation, belongings, flooring or ceilings so you should hire a plumber that specializes in leak detection for this job.

5. Running toilet

Toilets that are running usually have a humming noise and water will continue to run in the bowl long after it's been flushed. This issue can be taken care of rather easily by a plumber as it indicates there's a single part of the toilet that needs to be replaced.

6. Leaking toilet

Did you know a leaking toilet can cost you $100 in water costs each year? This problem can often be fixed by replacing the rubber gaskets and spud washer, although it can require a more complicated repair job.

7. Installing a new faucet

While some DIYers prefer to install their own faucets, some simply prefer calling a plumber to handle the job. Most plumbers will guarantee their work so you won't have to panic if you run into problems after installing it yourself.

8. Problems with a garbage disposal

Like all household appliances, your garbage disposal will occasionally stop working properly or give out. Many stop running after they trip the circuit breaker, often when something has caused the appliance to overheat. You can usually fix this issue by hitting the red button under the unit under your sink. Other common garbage disposal problems include leaks and obstructions under the blades.

Image credit: Maegan Tintari at Flickr

Detecting Underground Leaks in Ontario

Did you know even a tiny leak can waste 250,000 gallons of water in only three months and add over $200 to your water bill? Leaks don't just occur at your facuets and toilets, either; underground leaks can quickly become one of the costliest problems, creating thousands of dollars in property damage if undetected. There are plenty of professional plumbers operating in Ontario, California who can fix the problem, although many use old-fashioned leak detection methods that take more time and cost you more money. It's important to work with a plumber like Inland Empire Plumbing who uses modern electronic techniques for quick detection and fast repairs.

Leaks in your underground plumbing can be caused by many things, including stray electric currents from utilities that cause premature rust on piping, driving over the pipes with heavy equipment, poor installation, freezing and thawing, leaking joints and simple rust from aging pipes.

Leak Repair Courtesy of Ben+Sam at Flickr

Signs You Have an Underground Leak

• Water pooling on the lawn or wet spots in landscaped areas of your yard
• A single spot that's greener, mossier, softer or moldier than the rest of the lawn
• A noticeable drop in your water pressure
• Sudden issues with rusty or dirty water
• An irrigated area suddenly turning brown or dying
• Cracked pavement
• Sink holes
• A structure on your property is leaning
• Sudden spike in water use or water bills that are climbing steadily for no reason

Checking for an Underground Leak

Unfortunately, most people don't realize they have a leak until they see their water bill climbing for no reason. You may realize there's a leak in your water line if you have copper pipes as well, as copper is a very good conductor of sound and the faucets in your home act as small amplifiers.

Start by checking all of the valves in your house to ensure nothing is running, even a small trickle. Check the toilets and hose faucets in particular as many toilets run without any notice. Turn the toilets off at the supply stop and, if you notice this stops the problem, you'll simply need to contact a plumber in Ontario, California to tune up your plumbing system.

Finally, inspect your entire home for any signs of water damage, including under sinks, your water heater and dishwasher. Pay careful attention to the floors, walls and ceilings as well to spot moisture. If none of these steps turned up a problem, it's time to contact a leak detection professional.

How the Leak is Isolated

If you want, try to isolate the leak before the plumber arrives to fix the problem. Start by turning off your main water cut-off valve, which may be neaer your water heater or outside of the house. This shuts off all water to your home. Test it by opening a faucet to remove the pressure and drain it until the water stops flowing. Now listen carefully. If you don't hear any water running, the leak is probably under the floors of the house.

If you still hear water running, it's probably a leak in the water main which runs under the ground between your main water cut-off valve and the water meter. Walk along the ground where you believe the water lines run and look for wet areas in the ground or even a spot where you see water bubbling up.

Contact Inland Empire Plumbing Today

At Inland Empire Plumbing, our licensed plumbers specialize in diagnosing and repairing underground leaks, including slab leaks. We use modern electronic detection equipment to quickly pinpoint the leak without the time-consuming and ineffective "listen, hit and miss" approach. Our extensive experience in underground leak detection can save thousands by finding and fixing the problem before it causes unnecessary damage to your property.

Contact the experienced professionals at Inland Empire Plumbing today to save water and money and avoid expensive repairs in the future!