Oh *&^%**%...i've Got A Leak...

[pastafreak]

...and I can't figure out where it's coming from.
I live in a maisonette-on the top 2 floors of a four storey building.
I just discovered a slow drip from the ceiling in my kitchen-the bathroom is above. I at first assumed it was from pipework in the bath. But-I've just noticed that there is a wet patch ( about 8" x 15")on the bathroom ceiling-just across the doorway,and water is dripping from around the door frame. I'd noticed a tiny wet patch on the floor in there earlier-assumed the cat may have 'missed'...I guess not :-((
So-is the water that's dripping from the kitchen ceiling what has collected so far on/under the floor of the bathroom? Is the main leak from in the roof space?
Help! I'll call a plumber in the morning.....but would like to have some idea of what is going on.

[Sir Alec]

I had this in my kitchen once and it turned out to be a leaking immersion heater. I called out an emergency plumber, I think it's all you can do. With the weather we've been having, it could just be a burst pipe. Not much you can do till morning. You have my sympathy, good luck!
ps. Why does it always happen at night when you can't do anything?

[Lie-in King]

Hi pasta - if this were my problem, I'd turn off the mains water supply at the stopcock, then drain the roof tank by flushing the loo & running the taps.

I'd also turn off your immersion heater so that you're not heating an empty tank.

I'm a layman, not a plumber - I hope everything turns out ok for you.

[Lie-in King]

Apologies, I should have added that I'd fill the kettle & a few saucepans as well...

[pastafreak]

erm...I don't have an imersion heater...new boiler was installed about 5-6 years ago....though there is an old tank(for over flow???) in the hall closet outside the bathroom. But that is not in the ceiling....

[Sir Alec]

Glad it's not that then, pasta, immersion heaters can be expensive. I'd take LIK's advice then. Fill the bath with water for necessities and call the plumber in the morning. Again, good luck and I hope you get it sorted soon.

[paulllambert]

I would guess at a broken ballcock in the water tank, meaning it continues filling even when full. Check this if you can. Easy to fix and a lot cheaper than a plumber.

[boxtops]

if paul is right, it's worth pulling off the lid on the tank and seeing if just gently bending the arm of the ballcock adjusts it (I've done that many times) - you just want to see that outlet being blocked off when the ball is fully raised.

[sara3]

pasta, I had a leak from my bathroom into my kitchen. tiny drops of water sneaked off the edge of the bath, under the bath panel, and gathered in the kitchen light fitting (v dangerous!). the light isn't directly under where the water was coming through so yes, it can gather and find an indirect area to leak through.
I'd suspect it's coming from the water tank so either go and take a look, or get someone in who can. I hope it's something simple.

[Zacs-Master]

Has the building for a flat roof?

[Zacs-Master]

Got

[The Builder]

You've had a new boiler, Pasta, and you don't have an immersion cylinder, so I guess you have a Combi boiler?

Is it an older property that once had an immersion and a gravity fed system with a rooftank?

[Arthurian]

Get a Basin or Bucket, If you Suspect a leak put [Carefully] a small hole in the ceiling with a screwdriver, [That will drain any water away until the plumber arrives & save the whole ceiling coming down!!] Do NOT Delay as electrics can get wet & increase your bill.

[pastafreak]

@ Zacs-Master...yes-it has a flat roof.

@ TheBuilder-It's former MOD-so maybe built in the 60's. Yes to a combi boiler...don't know about a roof tank. There is a small open tank in the linen cupboard that I was told was for overflow-but that is empty.
The wet patch on the ceiling is only in the bathroom-not the loo next to it on one side,nor the closet on the other.
I've put buckets on the floor,and the drip through to the kitchen has decreased quite a bit.It's really not very much water...maybe an inch over almost 24 hours.
Plumber due tomorrow late noon-I hope-he's fully booked so may be delayed.
Should I really punch a hole in the ceiling?

I am wondering if this will be covered by buildings insurance....?