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Condensationbin light fitting

ian philpott

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Joined
Jun 5, 2025
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A tenant of mine keeps reporting a build up of water in the bathroom light fittings,saying the shade fills with water. The shade or bowl is about 3inches in depth.
This then causes the breaker to come out.
Icannot believe this is condensation from the shower. There is a fan connected to circuit coming in when light is switched.
Has anyone had such issues
I believe water comes from upstairs flat.
By time I get there I cannot find any evidence of this.
 
Hey, have you sorted this one already? The fact that the breaker trips is a huge indicator that there's a serious amount of water getting into the fitting, causing a short circuit. Condensations wouldn't do that so you're probably right about the water coming from somewhere else. Even if you can't find it, I'd suspect it's a plumbing leak. Water can travel along joists before it finds a spot to drip. This is a serious safety hazard! You've got live electrical parts and water mixing, which is a big shock risk! It's best to track the source of the leak and get it fixed as soon as possible!
 
That sounds frustrating. Have you checked if the ceiling above the fitting shows any signs of staining or softness? Could be a slow leak from upstairs that only shows during use. Also, is the fan ducted properly outside, or could it be pushing moist air back into the ceiling space? Might help to run a moisture meter next time you're there.
 
If water's pooling in a light fitting, that's not just condensation, it's a building failure. Either leaks from upstairs or bad seals, and dismissing it risks fire, lawsuits, and you losing the property
 
A tenant of mine keeps reporting a build up of water in the bathroom light fittings,saying the shade fills with water. The shade or bowl is about 3inches in depth.
This then causes the breaker to come out.
Icannot believe this is condensation from the shower. There is a fan connected to circuit coming in when light is switched.
Has anyone had such issues
I believe water comes from upstairs flat.
By time I get there I cannot find any evidence of this.
man, this is actually kinda serious. but, you can't just rely on visual evidence. Get a moisture meter and check the area around the light fixture, especially on the ceiling and the walls.
A moisture meter will tell you if the drywall is damp, even if it looks dry to the eye. This will give you the proof you need to show the upstairs tenant and call in a plumber
 
I agree with them! The best thing you can do is to ensure the electrical side is secured. Electricity and water are a serious hazard. Once you have secured the electrical side you may start working on the upstairs plumbing.
 
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