I came home today after being gone for 2 days to discover that I have a leaky "turn -off valve" behind my upstairs toilet and the water dripped down the subfloor to the first floor ceiling and is dripping down my walls!!
THe ceiling has paint peeling from it and it is dripping. I am trying to dry it out with heaters.

I turned off the valve, drained the toilet bowl and dried oot the inside tank.

Question 1- how can I stop the valve from leaking. I have already turned it off, and tightened all if the nuts as far as they will go and it still leaks.

Question 2 - What problems can arise from the wetness on the first floor walls/ceiting?

Thanks so much!

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Question 1- how can I stop the valve from leaking. I have already turned it off, and tightened all if the nuts as far as they will go and it still leaks.

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It sounds like the whole valve or insides of the valve needs to be replaced.

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Question 2 - What problems can arise from the wetness on the first floor walls/ceiling?

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If the walls and ceiling got really soaked, then the strength of them holding together has been diminished greatly. This can potentially be a hazardous situation, depending on the materials of which they have been constructed because things could fall down. The walls and ceiling materials might need to be removed and replaced.

If they didn't get really soaked, then using fans and or heaters may do the trick as far as drying them out and the materials might not need to be replaced. Although, it does sound as though you are going to need some paint scraped away, possible patching and sanding of uneven paint areas, priming and also painting done.

If you own the home, then I would assume that you have home owner's insurance of some kind? If you do, then I would suggest calling your insurance agent as soon as possible.

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Question 1- how can I stop the valve from leaking. I have already turned it off, and tightened all if the nuts as far as they will go and it still leaks.

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Since you didn't say, I'm going to have to assume that you have a compression type angle stop ,(see image) Tell me where it's leaking from. Around the stem? The 1/4 or 1/2" compression nuts? Where?

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Question 2 - What problems can arise from the wetness on the first floor walls/ceiting?

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I can't improve on cloughs advice about your ceiling. Regards, Tom

Thanks for the response. The vavle doesn't look like the one in the picture. It is the kind of vavle used on toilets. I unscrewed the valve from the toilet, but water keeps coming up the pipe from the wall. I tries tightening all nuts. I have to empty the bucket I have under there every hour (no sleep last night).
ANy help?
Lianne

This IS the 1/2 X 1/4" angle stop used for both toilet and lavatory supplies. Describe yours to me. Is it a compression stop or does it screw or solder in?
Are you saying it leaks from the connection between the valve and the wall stub out? Give us more details please. Tom