Will it be ok for ceiling to keep dripping?

Counting_Pennies_2

I wonder if anyone can help.

Last year my hot water tank gave out, and started gushing through the ceiling. Luckily it coincided with the same day my plumber was coming out to fit a combi boiler, so it was fortunate it was caught in time.

Anyway, we didn't redecorate the ceiling because we are going to have building work later this year and will redecorate everywhere then.

My husband has said my eyes are playing tricks as each time I looked at the ceiling I felt the brown marks were increasing. Being very gradual near a year to the day, I started to believe him that I was being silly. But today there are drips coming out of the ceiling. My only thought was there has been a slow leak coming out of one of the pipes, the airing cupboard, which is now the combi-boiler cupboard is dry on the floor, so I can only assume it is through one of the pipe under the floor board.

I noticed the water pressure increase in the last 24 hours, so maybe that extra pressure on the pipe transferring the hot water through has been too much on it.

I have called my plumber and he has said he will try to make it over to me today, and if not he will call and talk about options. Do you think it is safe to leave it dripping, or do I need more urgent attention through an emergency plumber? I would prefer it to be my usual chap as he does everything to do with plumbing here. But worried the ceiling will cave in.

It is just one small drip every 30 seconds or so. The water tide mark I notice has spread but no new areas for drips.

Thanks

ormus

i would turn the water off just to be sure. the pipe could burst any time now.
get the leak located and fixed first.

Counting_Pennies_2

This is really sad, but not sure how to turn the water off!

Niv

In my house the stop !!!! is by the front door, some have it under the sink. Also the supply to your boiler should be near it (i.e in the same cupboard). Failing all that out in the street on the pavement outside your house should be a little metal cover with a stop !!!!. This is not always as clear to identify as it should be though as sometimes a few houses are bunched together etc.

Lol seems that I used a bad word, but it wasnt bad honest! :-/

Counting_Pennies_2

thank you, there is a stop !!!! in the cupboard and one in the downstairs loo.

Is it safe to just turn off the one in the cupboard, or does the down stairs one need to turn off too?

Thanks so much

Also what way do I turn it I don't want to turn it the wrong way and make it worse?

Niv

Clockwise to turn it off. If you dont maintain it (as you didnt know where it was I am guessing not!) then I would advise you spray with some lubricant like wd40. The last thing you want is to break it :-)

Each stop 'tap' (:P) probably locks down different parts of the system. The one in the downstiars loo will probably turn all the incoming water off, where the one in teh cupboard probably just turns the supplt to the boiler off. There should be no problem turniong just one off but ofcourse it depends where the problem is as to which will do the job best. If you can survive withoput water until th eplumber comes round i would turn the lot off tbh, which is probably the tap in teh downstiars loo.

p.s When you turn your water back on its always a good idea not to fully open your stop 'tap'. This way you have some play in it when you do need to turn it off the next time.

KillerWatt

Counting_Pennies wrote: »

Also what way do I turn it I don't want to turn it the wrong way and make it worse?

Clockwise = Off
Anti Clockwise = On

elfen

There should be a stopcock (think it's usually red or it's pretty big) either in the kitcken (usually under of near the sink) or where the water comes into your house....you might need to look for it.

gas4you

Using a small screwdriver or silmilar, poke a small hole through the plasterboard in the center of where it is dripping and put a bucket or tray under it. This will stop the wet spreading and causing further and wider damage to the ceiling.

ormus

most uk stopcocks are like this.

big red ones are very rare!

Counting_Pennies_2

Thanks all, my trusty plumber didn't let me down and made it out this afternoon.

Sadly it was a pipe that had corroded behind the shower/tiled wall, that was only put in place three years ago. It is now capped off, but we have the joy of having to have tiles removed and a new bit of pipe put in.

No shower for a while then!