Tricky plumbing problem...

Lemoncurd

Three weeks ago we noticed a drip and watermark on the ceiling below our ensuite. It was from directly below a radiator but we have a tiled floor and this area is totally inaccessible. That week I'd noticed that the grout was constantly wet around the toilet in the bathroom next door so we thought we'd see if the actual leak was coming from there first (didn't seem to be), tried looking at all the accessible pipework in both bathrooms and couldn't find anything but it did look like water was coming through all around the shower tray in the ensuite so we resealed all of that two weeks ago. Didn't notice any more drips so kind of forgot agout it.

This evening I noticed a drip from the ceiling and it has been dripping steadily all evening so obviously it wasn't the shower sealant!

Any suggestions for our next steps?
We had the ensuite and bathroom completely redone three years ago, it looks like the floors were fully boarded then fittings put in and the floors tiled over so to access the radiator pipes from above is going to mean taking it all out and we don't even know for sure the leak is coming from there. There doesn't appear to have been any reduction in pressure in the central heating system.

Is it possible to go from below and cut into the ceiling? it is now water damaged anyway so will need a bit of work. Could this be more cost effective?

If we call a plumber what would they be likely to do given that we haven't found the source of the leak yet?

baby_bronagh

hi
my son had similar prob. water dripping from utility ceiling which is below bathroom. OH cut out piece of ceiling in ulility where the drip was to gain access to pipe that was dripping. replaced the joint that was leaking and then got small sheet of plasterboard (about £2 from B&Q) and after fitting the p.b. gave it a coat of polyfilla and it worked a treat.BTW he left the hole in the ceiling for a day or 2 just to check that the leak was fixed before he replaced the plasterboard
hope this helps !

Lemoncurd

Thanks, I think we prob will try the cutting the hole in the ceiling approach first then - just hope we cut the hole in the right place to access the leak!

Lemoncurd

It looks like a couple of unused pipes have just been 'pinched' off and one of these is leaking.

Does anyone know the best way to seal them off properly, or at least stop the leak permanently? It looks like maybe 12mm copper pipe and the end has been squeezed together to close it.

baby_bronagh

I'm sure that you can get an end stopper . You should be able to get advice either in B&Q of plumbers merchant but I think that if pipe's been squeezed it might need cut!!.

fellakel

get your self a john guest speedfit stop end. cut the pipe with a pipe slicer (not a hacksaw) and simply push the stop end on.

very easy job-shold take around one hour max.

Lemoncurd

Sorry didn't see these replies but thanks that was basically just what we did, seems ok, just have to tackle the ceiling repairs now!
Funny that you mention John Guest, they have a factory just across the road from our house!

ic

Are the pipes lead? I'd be surprised if somebody is going to pinch off a copper pipe when pushfit, solder and compression end caps are all available to do the job quickly and cheaply. If its lead, it'd be better to find where it originates and disconnect it, rather than mess around trying to seal up the end.

Lemoncurd

ic wrote: »

Are the pipes lead? I'd be surprised if somebody is going to pinch off a copper pipe when pushfit, solder and compression end caps are all available to do the job quickly and cheaply. If its lead, it'd be better to find where it originates and disconnect it, rather than mess around trying to seal up the end.

No, they were copper pipes.