is my ceiling going to fall down?

[rm]

So, I get a call from my unexpected house guest that my bathroom ceiling is leaking.

I run home.

It's done leaking by the time I get there.

There's been maybe a pot-full of water involved in total.

I turn on the light in the bathroom. Everything's red. What.

Oh. The glass lamp shade has filled up with nasty water.

Now, can I go up there and unscrew the lampshade without electrocuting myself? If I just leave it be will the water evaporate (because I don't relish climbing on a stool and probably dumping nasty water on my head).

Finally, am I correct to assume that whatever happened was probably the result of the kids upstairs (*shakes fist at Scooby-Do van*) flooding their bathroom because they are idiots, or do I have to worry that there's a cracked pipe in the ceiling and this will happen everytime they turn on the shower? There's no bubbling paint or anything and the whole thing looks to me like they flooded their bathroom and the water went into their floor and then came in to my apartment through the shoddily sealed light fixture.

While I realize everyone's first recommendation is going to be "call the super" that's problematic and best avoided unless this becomes are recurring issue. So what's your second piece of advice?

And please, for the love of God, tell me it will be okay.

Also, I should note that it apparently happened twice about 10 minutes apart, which to me reads like flood and flood cleanup. But that may be wishful thinking.

Comments

[bravencrazy.livejournal.com]

Ahhhhh, my experience gutting and revamping my Little Crack House in the Exurbs is about to benefit you!

The water will NOT evaporate on its own. It will stay there, and mold and harmful bacteria will breed. You have to remove the globe. To do this without electrocuting yourself, simply turn off the electricity at the electrical box before removing the globe.

It could be due to the kids upstairs flooding the bathroom. Unfortunately, it could also be due to a plumbing issue; before we gutted our bathroom, it leaked onto the floor below it. Unfortunately, all you can do is wait and see if it happens again.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Um. I live in an apartment. By electrical box do you mean a fuse box? Or something else? If you mean something else, I don't have access to one of those.

[bravencrazy.livejournal.com]

Yes, the fuse box. Just switch off the electricity to your bathroom and remove the globe.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Okay, cool.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Also, is it okay to let the water situation sit for another 5 hours? As I'd really like to get to fencing and I'm not at home currently.

[bravencrazy.livejournal.com]

No, nothing should happen in five hours. Just don't let it sit there for days.

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

Agreed on that one. Although a bucket or big pot underneath may be prudent.

[bravencrazy.livejournal.com]

Good idea, especially since we don't know if this is a one-time thing due to flooding or a plumbing problem.

[fleur.livejournal.com]

Yes, it'll be fine, but don't turn it on again.