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Counselor

By Ed Del Grande

Q Our young daughter thought that she would play "Ed the Plumber" in our new home's bathroom. She ended up flooding the sink, and the water leaked into our family room through the ceiling! What should we be concerned about, and what damage could have been done inside the walls and ceiling?

— Sandy, Pennsylvania

A First of all, Sandy, this is not an uncommon problem. A good portion of my plumbing calls result from a young child leaving a faucet on or plugging up a toilet and then continuously flushing.

But while small bathroom floods are stressful, if they're caught in time, the effected parts of the house usually will dry out in a few days. I would call a contractor, however, if you have any concerns about water in an electric light or fixture, or if you're afraid that wires or other potential hazards may have been affected by the water.

Having said that, since it was the sink that flooded, you're in much better shape than if it had been the toilet. Toilet flooding may contain some waste-water, and any surface where the water was mopped up should be washed as well with the proper cleaning products.

The biggest problem with water coming through a ceiling may just end up being a stain. There are a few products you can buy at your home center that are made for removing ceiling stains. As a last resort, you may need to repaint the entire ceiling. That would get rid of any evidence that your child's first plumbing job didn't go according to plan. But don't discourage her; it happens to the best of us!