I have a stand up shower on the second floor of the house.

We've had two chronic issues lately.

The hot water faucet is difficult to shut off and sometimes takes a lot of pressure to shut off

Second, the shower often fills with water and is slow to drain.

Last night we developed a steady drip through the ceiling on the first floor. One right below the shower and the second is in the dining room about 8 feet from where the shower is. Since there is no plumbing above the dining room we assume water is running across a beam somewhere.

Here is the issue. Prior to calling a plumber in how can we find out if the leak is from the faucet or the shower floor? We've shut off all the water in the house and it still slowly drips. In the last 24 hours it is has dripped about a gallon.

speedball1

"I have a stand up shower on the second floor of the house." Is it a custom tile shower or a manufactured base and enclosure?

"The hot water faucet is difficult to shut off and sometimes takes a lot of pressure to shut off" Hot water knob on the shower valve? What's the brand name? Cheers, tom

"the shower often fills with water and is slow to drain." You have a blockage and the drain will have to be snaked out.

Let me know, Regards, tom

yawkeyfan

The shower is a one piece fiberglass unit with a glass door.

I cannot locate the brand of the faucet.

And as far as the blockage, snaking it out is easy. Since the leaks appeared after we used the shower (three people showered back to back) it sounds like it is blocked.

Any chance that we could "luck out" and all of this leaking could be caused by the blockage?

speedball1

"Any chance that we could "luck out" and all of this leaking could be caused by the blockage?"
First things first. Clear the drain and we'll go from there.
" We've shut off all the water in the house and it still slowly drips. In the last 24 hours it is has dripped about a gallon."
Unless you opened up a hot and cold faucet to relieve the pressure you still had over a gallon of water left in your pipes under pressure.
regards, tom

yawkeyfan

Husband is back home and is now snaking the drain.

However it still might be both problems causing the issue. He removed the faucet covers and the cold water pipe has no play and is solid. The hot water pipe moves a bit and was loose. I could hand tighten it back and is now more stable, but still has some give.

My husband says the easiet way to look at the pipe is to cut through the sheet rock on the other side. He said it is better than pulling out the shower. Being a wife I am not crazy about him cutting through the wall, but on the other hand it does seem easier than trying to remove the shower.

We'll let you know.

speedball1

Hold off on tearing up the walls.
"He removed the faucet covers and the cold water pipe has no play and is solid. The hot water pipe moves a bit and was loose. I could hand tighten it back and is now more stable, but still has some give."
Not to worry, unless you find moisture back of the valve you're ok there. I think your problem's in the drainage but want to clear the line out before any more tests. tell hubby to flush the drain out with a few pans of boiling water after he's through snaking. rotting hair matted up with grease is what clogs up showers. the boiling water will melt the grease and flush it on out to the main. regards, Tom

yawkeyfan

Not my day today.

He removed the valves and the cold water valve is bone dry both the metal housing and the plastic insert.

Not the case with the hot water valve. When we removed the plastic insert that and the metal sleeve were both full of water.

speedball1

Now It's important that I learn the brand name of the shower valve. turn on the hot water. Is the leak coming from around the stem? If it is you still might luck out. regards, tom

yawkeyfan

The only place I can see a name is up on the shower head. I will assume that this was all done at the same time. (We've only been in the house 9 months).

The name on the shower head and the hand held shower assembly both say Alsons.

There is nothing on faucet handle itself, the metal piece that looks like a the socket you would put on a socket wrench and there is nothing on the plastic insert that slides into that socket.

Before turning the water back on. How can I be sure that when we do put the water on it won't spray out?

yawkeyfan

We turned the water back on and you can see a drip from the hot water valve. There is a plastic piece that fits into the stem and it is leaking from the stem

The only place I can see a name is up on the shower head. I will assume that this was all done at the same time. (We've only been in the house 9 months).

The name on the shower head and the hand held shower assembly both say Alsons.

There is nothing on faucet handle itself, the metal piece that looks like a the socket you would put on a socket wrench and there is nothing on the plastic insert that slides into that socket.

Before turning the water back on. How can I be sure that when we do put the water on it won't spray out?