Damp patch- Mission Creep !

[macabethiel]

A couple of weeks ago following some heavy rain noticed a damp patch in our lounge against an outside wall. Found a broken roof tile nearby so replaced it the next day

Last night after some rain touched the damp patch and it felt cold and wet. Drilled a small hole in the ceiling and water then dripped from the hole so fetched a tupperwear container to catch the drips. About half an egg cup full in all.

Investigation pointed me to the bathroom above and to the right of the damp patch. All seemed dry so Wife emptied the eaves so I could get directly above the damp area. I drilled a small hole as close to the bathroom as I could get and when I went into the lounge discovered that the damp patch was directly above the bathroom toilet.

I noticed that when I wiped the damp patch my finger turned green so thoughts changed from rain ingress to a leaking water pipe. Turned the main stop cock off and went to bed.
At About 1.30 am had a lightbulb moment and removed the plastic pipe trunking adjacent to the W/C to reveal an isolation valve for the W/C water supply. Placed some tissue around the isolation valve and it went soggy. Hard to see but with torch found water was dripping from the isolation valve screw itself.

This morning fitted new isolation valve all sorted leak fixed. Went to turn the water back on and now had a drip fron the stop cock in the downstairs W/C. Out to the water meter point on front pavement and turned off water. Removed stop cock body and took tap apart in downstairs W/C. All dipped in limescale remover, tap shaft rubbed with 1000 grit to remove oxidation. New tap washer fitted and gland cleaned.

Tap fitted back in place, water back on - no leaks all good. Wonder how much it would have cost me to have the leak investigated and fixed by a Tradesman?

Should be good for another 12 years hopefully. Have put small oil filled radiator below damp patch to dry it all out before decorating ceiling.

Wife just thinks I find more work on purpose to avoid "Housework" lol.

[solarman216]

Make a plumber of you yet, well done, cheap ball-o-fix suffer from spindle leaks, and main stop cocks get rarely used so often leak when operated, plumbers golden rule is to go back to it before leaving to check it is not weeping, prob would have cost you £80 to £100 to sort those two leaks but could have been less if all the stopcock needed was a nip up on the gland, roof tile minimum £100, one tile or 10 would make little difference, OH nearly forgot, you will need to apply stain block or good oil based undercoat to the ceiling befor you emulsion it, Rick

[iansjones]

Really nice move. Could have been costly if you hadn't spotted it.

[solarman216]

you may well be wondering why it showed when you had heavy rain, well it is because the plasterboard was well damp but not enough to cause a stain to show, but the heavy rain increased humidity which was attracted to the damp spot, which now made it wet enough to be come visible simples, Rick

[macabethiel]

Originally Posted by solarman216

you may well be wondering why it showed when you had heavy rain, well it is because the plasterboard was well damp but not enough to cause a stain to show, but the heavy rain increased humidity which was attracted to the damp spot, which now made it wet enough to be come visible simples, Rick

Interesting information thought it was me just linking two unconnected events !

[elty001]

I've always been told to open the stopcock fully then back it off 1/4 of a turn to stop it from seizing up

[macabethiel]

Originally Posted by solarman216

Make a plumber of you yet, well done, cheap ball-o-fix suffer from spindle leaks, and main stop cocks get rarely used so often leak when operated, plumbers golden rule is to go back to it before leaving to check it is not weeping, prob would have cost you £80 to £100 to sort those two leaks but could have been less if all the stopcock needed was a nip up on the gland, roof tile minimum £100, one tile or 10 would make little difference, OH nearly forgot, you will need to apply stain block or good oil based undercoat to the ceiling befor you emulsion it, Rick

Good advice was going to use some radiator paint that I have spare it's a white spirit job to clean the brush so hope that will do the trick !

Had previously tightened the gland as there was the start of a Stalegtite hanging down from the tap thought I should do it properly !