Leak and pipe repair: A stain on the ceiling and no idea where the water starts
Water under a sink is easy to spot. A stain spreading across the ceiling below a bathroom is harder to read, because water can run along a pipe or joist before it drips through. We trace the leak back to where it starts, repair that pipe or fitting, and show you what we found.
- Open 24/7
- Free estimates
- Average arrival about 60 minutes
- Open 24/7 Call or text any time
- Average arrival about 60 minutes Across our service area
- Free estimates You know the cost before work starts
- Licensed & insured For homes and businesses
- 8+ years of experience Local to the Lower Mainland
In short
DrainX Plumbing Ltd. is a 24/7 plumber in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, out to Langley. We find where a leak starts and repair the pipe or fitting that's causing it. Call or text 778-794-1234. Average arrival is about 60 minutes, and estimates are free.
Last updated
What to watch for
Signs it’s time to call
- Water collecting under a sink or around the base of a toilet
- A stain on a ceiling or wall that keeps getting bigger
- Paint bubbling or drywall going soft near a bathroom or kitchen
- The sound of running water when every tap is off
- Green or white crust building up on a copper pipe or fitting
- A musty smell under a cabinet or in a basement corner
What we do
How we handle it
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Step 1: Trace the water back
We follow the water to the pipe or fitting that's failing. If that means opening a wall or ceiling, we'll tell you where and why before we cut.
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Step 2: Repair the damaged section
We cut out the leaking piece of pipe or the failed fitting and replace it. Then we turn the water back on and watch the repair for drips while the wall or ceiling is still open.
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Step 3: Fix a burst pipe
A pipe that has split needs the water off first and a new section second. We replace the split length and check the pipe on either side of it for the same weakness.
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Step 4: When leaks keep coming back
If one run of pipe keeps leaking in new spots, the pipe itself may be wearing out. We'll show you what we're seeing and talk through a spot repair or a full repipe.
Our work
Photos from our jobs
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Plumber holding a brass fitting beside two new shut-off valves in an opened tiled wall -
Concrete floor broken out to reach a pipe under the slab
What it costs
There’s no price list, because every job is different. Some jobs are a flat rate and others are quoted after we take a look. Estimates are free, and we explain the cost before any work starts.
Our work is covered by warranty. Coverage depends on the service, and we go over it with you when you book.
Offers on now
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$50 off your first service
Conditions apply. Call for details.
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5% off for seniors
Conditions apply. Call for details.
Mention the offer when you call: 778-794-1234
Before we get there
- If the leak is at one sink or toilet, close the small valve under the sink or behind the toilet. If that doesn’t stop it, or you can’t tell where the water is coming from, close the main water shut-off.
- If water is dripping near a light fixture or running down a wall with outlets on it, keep everyone out of that room.
- Put a bucket under the drip and slide furniture out of the way. If a ceiling is sagging with water, stay out from under it.
- In a condo or townhouse, let your strata or building manager know, since the water may be reaching a neighbour’s unit.
Leaks and pipes: common questions
The stain is on my ceiling. Is the leak right above it?
Maybe not. Water can run along a pipe or the top of a joist before it drips through, so the stain may be some distance from the leak. It can also come from a drain or a toilet seal upstairs and not a supply pipe. If it turns out to be a roof, window or shower tile leak, we'll tell you so you can call the right trade.
I can hear water running, but every tap is off. What is it?
Check the toilets first, because one that refills on its own every so often is leaking water into the bowl. If the toilets are quiet, a supply pipe may be leaking inside a wall or under the floor. Close the main shut-off and listen. If the sound stops, the leak is on your side of the valve and it's time to call us.
It's only a slow drip. Can it wait?
If it's coming from a pipe or fitting, get it looked at soon. A slow drip inside a wall or under a cabinet can soak wood and drywall for a long time before anyone notices, and that's how mould gets started. A dripping faucet spout is less urgent, since that water goes down the drain.
What makes a pipe burst?
Pressure finds the weakest spot. That's usually a section thinned by corrosion or a joint that has worked loose. Pipes in unheated crawl spaces and outside walls can also freeze and split during a cold snap. Once a pipe splits, closing the main shut-off is the only thing that stops the water.
Guides on leaks and pipes
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How to find a hidden water leak with your water meter
Check your water meter for a hidden leak, find the usual culprits in the house, and tell a leak in the buried line from one under the floor or in a wall.
Updated
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Water leak in a BC strata: who repairs it and who pays
Which pipes are common property in a BC strata, who repairs a leak, when an owner pays the strata's insurance deductible, and what to do first.
Updated
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Kitec plumbing in BC: how to spot it and what to do
What Kitec water pipe looks like, the brand names it was sold under, the warning signs at its brass fittings, and why the class action can no longer help.
Updated
Google reviews
What customers say
5.0 out of 5 on Google
From 23 reviews, as of November 2026
What reviewers mention
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Fair prices
Reviewers often say the price was reasonable. A couple say it came in well under what other plumbers had quoted.
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Quick to come out
Several mention the plumbers arriving when they said they would. Others describe a same-evening visit, and a call-out at short notice on a holiday.
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Careful, clear work
The work is described as thorough, tidy and professional. Reviewers mention clear explanations, upfront pricing and no pressure to buy more.
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Fixed what others couldn't
Two reviewers say DrainX solved a problem other trades had not. Several say they would hire DrainX again, and one already has.
A summary, in our own words, of the reviews on our Google profile as of November 1, 2026. The reviews themselves are on Google.
Reviews shown as written on Google.
Service area
Where we do this work
Need a plumber? Call or text us.
Tell us what’s going on and we’ll take it from there.
Open 24/7 · Free estimates · Average arrival about 60 minutes