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

[browneyedgirl65.livejournal.com]

OK. Turn off the electricity at the fuse box. Have a flashlight or two handy just in case. You do not want to leave the water in there, you need to drain it. However, if you can drain it and get the electronics to dry out, they should be okay. Electronics are suprisingly good about being immersed (salt water will corrode immediately, but otherwise, let it dry out and most of the time it will work just fine).

I'm a bit aghast that it didn't blow when you turned it on; don't turn it on again :-P

You can wait a few hours, but put up a note or call up and warn anyone else in your apt not to turn the thing on till you have a chance to drain it.

As for why it happened, it could be an overflowed shower/tub or it could be cracked pipes. You may well have to deal with the folks upstairs eventually if it's recurring.