skidder Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Hi all, Well I spent my whole new years eve flooding my downstairs neighbours flat.Great. I just bought the place 6 weeks ago. The leak looks like it is directly under my bath. I've tried everything, taken the bath panel off and ran the bath for 10 mins but no leaks around the waste pipes. Its taking about 12 hours to reach downstairs.I'm on the first floor and nobody above me. Any ideas? I'm trying to find a plumber. The only thing I can think of is that its a waste pipe internally. I've taken a couple of floor boards up but can't really take more off without taking the whole bath out. I'm also leasehold and it states that I am responsible for the pipes serving my flat and the freeholder for the communal pipes. I've left a message yesterday with the freeholder but i'm not holding up any hope. I know you lot are a decent bunch so any help appreciated. Happy New Year. Chris Oh and im in Bournemouth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
350 Russ Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 First thing, does it leak when your not using the bath? If so its not the waste, Other than that its pull up boards and take out the bath until you find it I'm afraid, it's a pain in the arse but it happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 First thing, does it leak when your not using the bath? If so its not the waste, Other than that its pull up boards and take out the bath until you find it I'm afraid, it's a pain in the arse but it happens. Thanks for the reply.I don't think it leaks when the bath is not in use.It takes about 12 hours to even get downstairs.Seems a long time? Do you think I should start taking the bath and floorboards up to save the plumber time? thanks Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aspire5315 Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 i had a similar problem once but wasnt a flood, where the plug hole sits in the bath you will notice it has a small rubber gasket underneath and a screw head which is visible on the top where you fit the plug.....try tightening the screw head but gently untill you notice resistance......mine only happened when emptying the bath but made a mess of the down stair celling! but remember water travels so it could following a route there from another location....are you losing any pressure from your boiler gauge? you havent done any diy and nailed a pipe or anything? but try the plug and waste as i first said....good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetpilot Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Pm, ing you a mates number, also in Bournemouth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 Pm, ing you a mates number, also in Bournemouth. Thanks appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 i had a similar problem once but wasnt a flood, where the plug hole sits in the bath you will notice it has a small rubber gasket underneath and a screw head which is visible on the top where you fit the plug.....try tightening the screw head but gently untill you notice resistance......mine only happened when emptying the bath but made a mess of the down stair celling! but remember water travels so it could following a route there from another location....are you losing any pressure from your boiler gauge? you havent done any diy and nailed a pipe or anything? but try the plug and waste as i first said....good luck Problem is when I run the bath I see NO leaks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkwright Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 check your insurance. A lot of domestic house insurances now cover water supply and drainage. Also if you have boiler insurance the same may apply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aspire5315 Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 is it compression fittings that have been used? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aspire5315 Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 right so running the bath no leaks? what about emptying the bath? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 right so running the bath no leaks? what about emptying the bath? No leaks while running or emptying that I can see. I'm not sure what compression fittings are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aspire5315 Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 its plastic pipe and connectors which push together and eliminate the need for traditional plumbing.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 its plastic pipe and connectors which push together and eliminate the need for traditional plumbing.... Yes plastic waste pipes and copper ingoing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 This is pretty much going to be impossible to diagnose without actually being there. That said, the fact it's taking 12 hours to get there means I'd put my money on it not being a leak on any of the supply pipes. A soil pipe leak is more likely. Does it happen when you take a bath or when you take a shower? Any difference in time scales? Realistically, you're going to have to start removing panels and floorboards until you find the point of the leak: I'm willing to bet that you'll soon find the section of floor/ceiling that's saturated, which will make it easier to find the problem. Also, plumber call-out on Jan 1st: Bang goes the Zed modding fund! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 its plastic pipe and connectors which push together and eliminate the need for traditional plumbing.... No. Compression fittings are NOT push fit plastic. Compression fittings work on a nut and olive (brass or copper if metal, rubber if plastic) forcing against each other to create a seal. Plastic push fit is something altogether different, and it's also horrible cheap sh*t used by either DIYers (vaguely understandable) or cheap plumbers (completely unacceptable IMHO). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 This is pretty much going to be impossible to diagnose without actually being there. That said, the fact it's taking 12 hours to get there means I'd put my money on it not being a leak on any of the supply pipes. A soil pipe leak is more likely. Does it happen when you take a bath or when you take a shower? Any difference in time scales? Realistically, you're going to have to start removing panels and floorboards until you find the point of the leak: I'm willing to bet that you'll soon find the section of floor/ceiling that's saturated, which will make it easier to find the problem. Also, plumber call-out on Jan 1st: Bang goes the Zed modding fund! It leaks after the bath.I don't have a shower as i'm doing the place up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 So it's taking 12hrs for 80L of water to seep through? Odd. Does it seep, or does it pour? Drips or torrential? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 (edited) So it's taking 12hrs for 80L of water to seep through? Odd. Does it seep, or does it pour? Drips or torrential? Drips lightly but has covered a 1.5ft x1.5ft area seeping. Edited January 1, 2015 by skidder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
350zedd Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 This is pretty much going to be impossible to diagnose without actually being there. That said, the fact it's taking 12 hours to get there means I'd put my money on it not being a leak on any of the supply pipes. A soil pipe leak is more likely. Does it happen when you take a bath or when you take a shower? Any difference in time scales? Realistically, you're going to have to start removing panels and floorboards until you find the point of the leak: I'm willing to bet that you'll soon find the section of floor/ceiling that's saturated, which will make it easier to find the problem. Also, plumber call-out on Jan 1st: Bang goes the Zed modding fund! ^^^What he said. You need to check the connection from the bath waste into the soil pipe Does the soil pipe run internally or externally? If internal, maybe the soil pipe is partially blocked and the bath water is backing up and leaking out of a joint somewhere. Even though you can't see any water you need to feel the pipes are dry, as sometimes the water can travel along the outside without seeing it. If I were you, I'd do as much detective work as poss, as plumbers rates will be horrendous especially today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimboy2 Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Any way you can not use your bath for a couple of days? Extremely inconvenient but could remove the bath from the equation. Friends, parents or a gym? Could save you a lot of hassle if it isn't the bath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 If internal, maybe the soil pipe is partially blocked and the bath water is backing up and leaking out of a joint somewhere. Even though you can't see any water you need to feel the pipes are dry, as sometimes the water can travel along the outside without seeing it. That's exactly what I was thinking. This could well be a blockage of some kind. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 This is pretty much going to be impossible to diagnose without actually being there. That said, the fact it's taking 12 hours to get there means I'd put my money on it not being a leak on any of the supply pipes. A soil pipe leak is more likely. Does it happen when you take a bath or when you take a shower? Any difference in time scales? Realistically, you're going to have to start removing panels and floorboards until you find the point of the leak: I'm willing to bet that you'll soon find the section of floor/ceiling that's saturated, which will make it easier to find the problem. Also, plumber call-out on Jan 1st: Bang goes the Zed modding fund! ^^^What he said. You need to check the connection from the bath waste into the soil pipe Does the soil pipe run internally or externally? If internal, maybe the soil pipe is partially blocked and the bath water is backing up and leaking out of a joint somewhere. Even though you can't see any water you need to feel the pipes are dry, as sometimes the water can travel along the outside without seeing it. If I were you, I'd do as much detective work as poss, as plumbers rates will be horrendous especially today. The soil pipe runs internally. Its possible that it might be blocked as my dumb mate was tiling a couple of weeks ago and has blocked the sink in the bathroom(still goes down but slowly)and also a load of crap probably went down the bath plug knowing him.The bath drains quickly though. There is definitely no water on any of the pipes or dripping unless its under the floorboards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 If internal, maybe the soil pipe is partially blocked and the bath water is backing up and leaking out of a joint somewhere. Even though you can't see any water you need to feel the pipes are dry, as sometimes the water can travel along the outside without seeing it. That's exactly what I was thinking. This could well be a blockage of some kind. Possibly onto something here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 The soil pipe looks like it runs from the bath,under the toilet and then to the wash hand basin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
350zedd Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Have you a manhole cover you could lift outside to check if the bath water is running away at a reasonable rate? This would rule out a blockage further up the soil pipe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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