[theofania]

We have a shower/tub combo on the upper level of our split level home. One day after a shower, I noticed water dripping/streaming from the light fixture in the SAME bathroom where the shower is (NOT downstairs). We checked the attic, but the attic looked dry. We've turned on the water since then (with the light off course) but have not seen the leak repeated. We were planning on remodeling the bathroom eventually anyway, so we just took down the wall behind the shower head, but it looked dry back there too. We still need to take down more walls and turn on the water to observe, but I was wondering if anyone had ever had a similar problem. Any tips or ideas?

Thanks!

[hkstroud]

If you live in a climate where the temperature can go below freezing you should not have any water pipes in the attic. I am assuming that the light fixture is a ceiling fixture.

You would have to pull back the insulation to see any signs of water. I assume that you have eliminated rain and a possible roof leak.

Do you have an furnace in the attic.

[theofania]

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, it freezes in the winter here, so there shouldn't be any pipes in the attic.
Yes, the light fixture is a ceiling fixture.

When we were in the attic we noticed that in the area above the bathroom there are places where the insulation is entirely missing. We did not see any evidence of a roof leak when we were up there. There is no furnace in the attic.

Thanks for your help.

[hkstroud]

Well if there are no pipes in the attic it can't be a plumbing problem. The reason for asking about furnace is that high efficiency furnaces create condensation and have a condensation drain.
If there was no rain at the time of the leak, was there any snow on the roof? If there was snow the cause may be ice dams.
The lack of insulation or insufficient insulation at the eves can cause ice dams at the edge of the roof and melting snow above can back up under the shingles and leak into walls and attics. Ice in the gutter can also create ice dams.

Pull back insulation between the light fixture and the eve of the house. Especially in the bay that the fixture is in and look for signs of water.

[theofania]

There was no rain or snow on the roof that day.

[hkstroud]

I'm stumped.

[theofania]

Thanks anyway for your time!