How far can water travel?

DieHard

I live in a ground floor flat, and the only place there is a water supply in our flats is in the kitchen and bathroom.

If there was a leak in the pipes from upstairs (either sink, washing machine, dishwasher or soil pipe) How far could the water travel along the beams?

My kitchen and bathroom is directly below the upstairs flat's.

If there was a leak could the water travel all the way along the aluminium beam to the living room which is over the other side of the flat?

I know when there is a leak, water always finds the easiest path to flow away.

If it could travel that far would there be evidence of a leak on the ceiling in the kitchen or around the light fitting before it even got to the living room? How likely is it that water could even travel all the way to the living room before it found an easier way out.

Would the amount of water needed to get that far be obvious? i.e I would be aware of a leak even if i couldn't see it.

27col

I had a leak above my kitchen and it manifested itself 12ft away in the opposite side of the kitchen ceiling. What water does or does not do is entirely a matter of chance, depending on many variables, Not the least of which is the design and construction of the house.

jc808

It can travel up to 19 inches

Seriously, no idea

martinthebandit

Over 4000 miles in the case of the Nile HTH


Although to be a little more helpful, you would (eventually) notice any leak. Why do you ask?

keystone

An awful long way before it gets out if it can find a route.

Cheers

tanith

It'll keep on seeping till its found a route however far that is...