We were incredibly lucky to have been present at the time!!!!
Manxie the house is only 11 years old, as Di said, it really should not be wear and tear Redrow Homes put them in but we are past the 10 year guarantee!
Kaz, Have you checked your insurance to make sure you are covered for this type of problem? Also do you know where your main stop valve is for the cold water inlet and can you easily turn it off? Do you know a good plumber who would come out in case of emergency? Our CH system has been in many years and we have never replaced any radiators. Will ask the plumber when he comes next week to service the boiler.
Thank goodness you were home and not much damage done. Agree though that it may be an idea to have a general check over. Do you have a heating / plumbing cover with anyone? They should do it free of charge?
Mick sounds just like John, he fitted out the bathroom in our old house and plumbed in the kitchen and downstairs toilet when we had the extension built there. Doesn't half save some money!
Kaz, we had an instance of a bathroom radiator developing a pinhole leak and start spurting water when we were in our first house in Somerset, so that would be back in the 1980's - we bought that house new, but (from memory) the rad was 10-15 years old when it happened. Stopped the leak by closing the rad valves, no damage done. We were under a central heating maintenance contract and got it sorted out via them.