Odd leak from ceiling - can anyone diagnose?

[goldbyron]

I have an odd leak from my bathroom ceiling (well its my partners) which first happened 4 weeks ago and then last night. Prior to both of these occasions my partner had the hot water on for several hours (overnight) rather than the usual 1-2 hours.

Just before the first time my partner's hot water tank broke down due to an electrical burn out (not technical) of the wires. An electrician fixed the problem however the first leak was later that night. Initially I thought it may be the roof leaking (it is an attic flat) however the problem does not seem to to directly correlate with rainfall. The first occasion there had been rain however it has not leaked in the last 4 weeks despite major downpours.

The water tank rests almost directly overhead - and the leak is ride on the edge. I wondered if this could also be where the pipes are too. In addition we were not staying at the property much in the last 4 weeks and have only really been around for the last week. So I am thinking the leak is associated with pipes/tank as this is only used when we are present and not weather.

The leakage of water is approximately 10-15ml per occasion and is brown in colour (rusty or the wood varnish from the ceiling?). The leak runs the length of approximately 75cm in a line along one wooden slat. Thankfully this is over the bath!

Has anyone any ideas of what this could be and whether to call a plumber or a roofer (it is a flat roof above this section) in?

 

[mattylad]

Have you been up in the loft to look at the water tank & pipes?

 

[goldbyron]

There is no loft unfortunately - just a small space between the bathroom ceiling (attic conversion) and the roof. Not one you can access unless you rip the ceiling out.

 

[gas4you]

A set up like this with no access is asking for problems. What happens when one has to perform a simple ( in your case a not so simple) ball valve swap do to dripping?

I would rip the ceiling down then have the tanks moved to an accessible position.

 

[8aviashusband]

A few thoughts: a) Somebody installed this thing, so had to gain access somehow. Try using a mirror on a stick and a torch to have a look round if you can't get in yourself. Look for limescale around joints etc.
b) Is warm, moist air from the bathroom getting into the loft space? Is there an extract fan exhausting into the loft space? Is the warm, moist air hitting the cold pipework or tank, the moisture condensing out and dripping on your ceiling?
c) Do you live in a hard water area? Limescale around the ball valve can sometimes result in a fine spray being produced as the tank fills, which may find its way outside the tank.

 

[jlacd]

As someone's already said, if there's no access, get the ceiling down and have a look..... you'll be gobsmacked at what you could find (as I was..... http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=155736)

 

[mattylad]

While yourgetting this fixed, putting a hatch in the ceiling or somewhere else would be a good idea.

 

[petit_pablo]

Typical attic conversion Put the tanks out the way then hide them behind plasterboards with no access.