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View Full Version : My third floor washing machine leaked through ceiling


gillylily2
Oct 21, 2013, 06:02 PM
Hi-
Today, my front-loading washing machine leaked (my fault because I was doing my monthly maintenance with the hose and lint trap and apparently didn't screw the lint trap in tightly enough) through my ceiling and through a light fixture. I turned off that particular circuit and my neighbor who is studying to be an electrician came over and took down that fixture and opened the hole in the ceiling a bit to let it air out. Should I be concerned about mold? There is no insulation between the floors, but I am neurotic about mold and I am concerned. I was blow-drying it for some time today, but I'm sure that wasn't enough to make a dent- It couldn't have leaked more than 10-15 minutes.
TIA for any help!

ma0641
Oct 21, 2013, 07:12 PM
If you can dry.it out in a couple of days it should not mold. Without insulation it should dry quickly. BTW only a very few mold species are toxic. Where would we be without penicillin?

gillylily2
Oct 22, 2013, 03:11 AM
Thanks so much for your response- My husband thinks I'm crazy about all of this, but we have had so many water issues already in this house (We just built it 4 years ago) and I always get nervous about the mold issue-
I noticed a water stain this morning on the celing, but that can always be painted- as long as we don't need to open up the whole dry-wall celing I can handle a little paint!
Thanks again!

gillylily2
Oct 22, 2013, 05:07 PM
Hi-
Thank you again for your response- I know this is a plumbing board, but I have another concern. All day, the lights were working in my kitchen (on a different circuit than the light previously mentioned) but this evening, they went out. I am assuming the circuit was blown from the water. Is this safe? I will shut off all circuits in these rooms before going to bed this evening (we are waiting to hear back from an electrician, however, I am now not only concerned about mold, but also about fire-- any thoughts or am I just crazy?
Thanks again for your help!

ma0641
Oct 22, 2013, 08:01 PM
Hi-
Thank you again for your response- I know this is a plumbing board, but I have another concern. All day, the lights were working in my kitchen (on a different circuit than the light previously mentioned) but this evening, they went out. I am assuming the circuit was blown from the water. Is this safe? I will shut off all circuits in these rooms before going to bed this evening (we are waiting to hear back from an electrician, however, I am now not only concerned about mold, but also about fire-- any thoughts or am I just crazy?
Thanks again for your help!

Turn the breaker off, get a good nights sleep and let the electrician handle it. If my answer helped, please click on the green "helpful " Icon.