Bathroom leak and a little bit of fallen ceiling

[HedgeWoes]

Hello

Any help welcome after my hedge trauma I have a new woe. I knew this house would have a few issues so I shouldn’t be surprised.

Last night whilst I was in the bath my husband asked how full the bath was as some of the ceiling had fallen down and a little bit of water was coming through.

Whilst I did have the water to just over the overflow I’m sure that shouldn’t have come through to the room below and brought down a bit of the ceiling.

Looking at it now as well as a little hole there is a bulge on the ceiling. I called the home emergency cover as soon as it happened but they won’t come out until tomorrow.

I’m now a little concerned as I’d already planned for plumbers to come and change the bathroom suite but that was before I knew about any leak and I’m worried if I need to claim on the insurance that I’ll look very suspicious.

I don’t know if I’m worrying unnecessarily but I would welcome any thoughts or what I should or shouldn’t do.

If you’ve had a bath before with no issue, but not had it as deep, then it’s possible the overflow pipe either isn’t connected properly or has a leak.
Doesn’t sound like great ‘emergency’ cover if they don’t come out for days, although I guess as it’s not actively leaking then it’s not really urgent.

Just stick to showers until it’s been inspected, and stick a pan under where the water dripped maybe?

Keep an eye on the bulge - we had a slow leak in some bath pipework that was hidden behind panelling. They said the void under the floor had probably been slowly filling with water for months! Before it finally broke through and caused raining In our dining room.

Home emergency only covers finding the leak and making safe (usually) so I wouldn't worry, it's probably a good thing you're having it changed anyway!

Another one saying to keep an eye on it. My DPs had a slow leak from their water tank in the loft. It wasn't until DM went into the spare room and happened to look up. The ceiling was about to burst! And it did. Luckily not on her!

They had their water bill recently and it's doubled in usage for the past year. Obviously thanks to what must have been a slow, but constant leak in the loft.

You need to get a large bucket and put it under the bulge, then use a broom to poke a whole in the ceiling. If you don’t then the whole ceiling may come down.

My theory is the overflow wasn’t connected to a pipe.

It’s not leaking now but the bulge is still there the emergency cover from my home insurance has just said don’t use the bathroom until the plumber arrives.

I’m hoping it isn’t too bad but I don’t quite know where this puts me if an insurance claim is necessary and I’ve already got a new bathroom planned

You do need to sort out the buldge, it will be a build up of water so you need to let it out. A plaster will then be able to patch it up after it dries. If you don’t you risk the whole ceiling coming down which is very messy.