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piercecath · Sep 26, 2005, 07:01 AM

I have a strange question... we have a leak in our kitchen ceiling, directly under bath #1. The plumber came out twice and even reset the toilet in bath #1, but the problem still occurs. We determined it only occurs when my husband (not me, not my kids) takes a shower in bath #2, which is NOT directly above the leak. Plumber (working on 5 visits now) recaulked around the faucet in bath #2, but the problem still exists. Any ideas would be much appreciated.

speedball1 · Sep 26, 2005, 07:23 AM

Originally Posted by piercecath

I have a strange question...we have a leak in our kitchen ceiling, directly under bath #1. The plumber came out twice and even reset the toilet in bath #1, but the problem still occurs. We determined it only occurs when my husband (not me, not my kids) takes a shower in bath #2, which is NOT directly above the leak. Plumber (working on 5 visits now) recaulked around the faucet in bath #2, but the problem still exists. Any ideas would be much appreciated.

Hey Cathy,

That's not a hard problem to figure out. You just pinpointed the source when you said it only happens when your husband takes a shower. The plumber should have snapped to that if you told him.
Let me explain. Your plumber had the glimmerings of the solution when he begain to caulk the tiles around the valve in bath #2, he just didn't carry it out far enough. Most tub and shower leaks don't come from a leaky pipe. They occur when tile grout shrinks around the tiles where the shower stream hits and splashes causing water to rundown behind the tiles on to the floor.
A leak of this sort won't necessary show up at the point it's leaking but can flow down to another spot and be noticed there.
Since your husband isn't the same size as you or the kids the water will splash at a different spot on the tiles as it hits him. The next time hubby goes rub-a-dub in the shower have him pay attention where the splash goes and where water congregates on the rim of the tub. That's the area I'd regrout or go over the grout with silicon gell. Good luck, Tom

piercecath · Sep 26, 2005, 08:23 AM

Thank you so much. I will go to Home Depot today and get some silicone sealer to try it. Thanks again.

jwseelbach · Jun 15, 2008, 04:45 PM

I had a similar problem; but it leaked only when taking a bath not the shower. After inspection found the tub drain shoe was not caulked so when tub was full water pressure caused leak. This happened in a new home in Houston 300K plus some. Never sure what you get even when paying for it. I found it unacceptable that code did not require a leak test of the builder; apparently that is the case in some parts of the city.

speedball1 · Jun 16, 2008, 06:12 AM

I found it unacceptable that code did not require a leak test of the builder; apparently that is the case in some parts of the city.

We do have to run a static test on our drainage. However the bathtub's installed after that. A competent plumber will fill and drain each fixture he installs to make sure it's installed properly with no leaks. This is done at final trim out. You just got a lazy plumber. Good luck, Tom

ballengerb1 · Jun 16, 2008, 08:08 AM

The only thing on my brain is why we are dealing with a post that's 3 years old.

speedball1 · Jun 17, 2008, 03:27 PM

Which post? The first post answered mr right back and the piggyback just joined the site. Regards, Tom

ballengerb1 · Jun 17, 2008, 03:31 PM

That what I was getting at. Jwseelbach piggybacked onto a question that was 3 years old. He must have been "researching" for quite some time to find that one.

speedball1 · Jun 17, 2008, 03:35 PM

Ahh! I understand. Must be getting old. Thanks, Tom

ballengerb1 · Jun 17, 2008, 06:14 PM

Me too, I was being Mr. Crabbypants. I always wonder why folks do stuff like that rather than just making their own post.