Leaking roof and electrical problems

[Sugarpaper]

Hoping someone wise can help me.

Storm Arwen blew two big holes in our roof at the weekend which we are midway through getting fixed. It is raining again right now. The big light in our main bedroom ceiling has been flashing on and off without the switch being touched. There is a small amount of water dripping from the light switch on the bedroom wall. I'm imagining the roof leak has got into the walls.

What should I do?! I have turned the electrics off for upstairs in the flicky box thing. Is this something the roofer will fix tomorrow? Do I need an electrician?

Any advice appreciated - DH has covid so is self isolating in our spare room. I have both children in bed with me currently so having a mild panic! Thank you.

The roofer will make the house weatherproof again. Once that's done, go up in the loft and assess the extent of the leak. How much water has got in?

It sounds like the water has run down the lighting cabling and has got inside one or more of the light switches. You could either get an electrician in to assess the damage, or you could leave the power off to those rooms, open up the light fittings and switches and let them dry for a couple of days, with the heating on.

Thanks so much - really appreciate the middle of the night help!

Had same when cleaning a carpet upstairs, the water ran into downstairs socket. Isolated lights at fuse box and let dry out.
Wait for roofer to fix roof, they might be able to see what the damage is. But I'd let dry out first as an electrician will be expensive and they won't be able to do much if it's a case of letting it dry. You could run a dehumidifier too.

Thanks so much. The roofers are back now and advised the same thing. I love MN for soothing a crisis!

clean water is not very damaging (once it has dried out) but the flickering switch is likely to have damaged or burned contacts, so should be replaced with new. No point in doing it before the leak is repaired and remaining water in the conduit has drained out and dried.

The electrician can temporarily fit a surface switch using a drip loop to prevent water running into it, but I doubt that is worthwhile unless you expect to get water leaks again. It's done on outdoor switches where this is likely.

Thanks so much