The former Everybody Loves Raymond star was preparing to leave her Los Angeles home and head to the airport when a faulty toilet caused water damage to spread from room to room.

In a series of Twitter.com posts, she writes, "6:30 a.m. Getting ready for airport. Son flushes toilet upstairs, all hell breaks loose downstairs. Water flooding dining room.

"Water in son's bedroom, bathroom and in dining room. Towels/buckets everywhere."

But Heaton, who is married to British actor David Hunt, was in too much of a rush to stay and sort out the mess - and instead called her personal assistant for help.

She added, "Got assistant out of bed. Got in car/not looking back!"