Upstairs shower leaking to 1st floor ceiling

speedball1 · Feb 7, 2005, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lil val

my upstairs shower is leaking to 1st floor ceiling. Below is my troubleshooting:
* I tested by not using the shower for awhile, leak stopped so I know it's not from water line. * I had water going directly to drain pipe, no leak so I know it's not the pipes under the floor. * I took drain cover off and tightened the rubber seal around pipe on the flange thinking it was fixed. I let the shower run for almost an hour with nobody in the stall, no leak.

I thought it was fixed so I took a shower, it started leaking again. Leak is really slow as it takes awhile for leak spot to get wet. Seems like it leaks when weight is put on the base pan while showering. I'm hoping this could be fixed by replacing the drain flange from above (is that possible?) and not having to tear out ceiling or replacing whole shower stall along with the pan. Speedball1 I've read some of your expert advise, should I be doing anything else to test? My friend thinks the base pan support may be broke so it's shifting when weight is put on it. I'm hoping it's just the drain flange seal. Help!

Hey Val,

I neeed a little more information. Is this a walk in tile shower, a shower base with tile walls, a complete fiberglass or plastic shower enclosure. How old is it? If a complete fiberglass or plastic shower enclosure was it home-owner installed? Explain what " the base pan support" consists of. "I took drain cover off and tightened the rubber seal around pipe on the flange." Are you saying that that the drain installation goes like this? Strainer, threaded drain flange lip that tightenes down on a rubber gasket? Any idea what connects the trap raiser to the drain? Do you have plans to open up the ceiling so see exactly where the leak originates ? Is what you call "just the drain flange seal" the rubber gasket under the threaded drain flange? I'll wait on your reply. Tom

lil val · Feb 7, 2005, 01:04 PM

Thanks for the quick reply tom. Shower is complete fiberglass, about 6yrs old and it was installed by builder. It connects to the bathtub and also connects to the base pan. The strainer screws on to the plastic lip, then it has a rubber gasket that compresses around the pipe when turned (that's what I tightened by tapping with a screwdriver as I didn't have the wrench that comes w/ it when you buy it, that is also what I meant by the drain flange seal, if that's what it's called). I'm hoping to replace it with wing tite shower drain if possible.

I was hoping that I didn't have to open up the ceiling as it's located in my family room downstairs. I don't see any visible cracks on the
The base pan or the walls in fact I just finished caulking the seams last week. Also the reason I think it's from the drain area is because the spot where moisture develops is exactly where the drain is upstairs and no other water stain lines coming from anywhere else if it is coming from other sources like side walls or valves (faucet).

speedball1 · Feb 7, 2005, 04:38 PM

You're not going to like what I have to say. The man that installed your shower made a mistake a lot of installers do if they aren't familiar with installing shower drains. When I asked, " Are you saying that that the drain installation goes like this? Strainer, threaded drain flange lip that tightenes down on a rubber gasket?."
Not the correct way of installation. It goes like this. The threaded drain and lip, sealent, (plumbers putty) under the lip then underneith the shower pan the rubber washer, then the friction ring and finally the retaining nut that tightens the drain. That's the way we install them. To back up my claim I pulled up the installation procedure from a replacement drain.

Install the drain body down through the shower pan.
Don't forget to use the appropriate sealer.( plumbers putty)
From underneath, install the rubber gasket and the fiber friction washer, Secure the drain with the brass retaining nut.
you can see the entire procedure if you wish by clicking on; http://www.davke.com/installation.htm
To do the job the way it should have been done you will have to open up the ceiling and install the drain correctly.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Tom

lil val · Feb 8, 2005, 06:32 AM

Oh well...thank's for your help!

j davis · Jun 28, 2005, 02:58 PM

Hey Tom, I have a ceiling leak which I believe is condensation on the cold line.The line is open to the utility room and now through the holes cut in ceiling where leak penetrated. Pipes are plastic and unisulated. Need a fix before we repair ceiling again. Jim

j davis · Jun 28, 2005, 03:09 PM

Hey Tom, I have a ceiling leak which I believe is condensation on the cold line.The line is open to the utility room and now through the holes cut in ceiling where leak penetrated. Pipes are plastic and unisulated. Need a fix before we repair ceiling again. Jim

speedball1 · Jun 28, 2005, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j davis

hey Tom, I have a ceiling leak which I believe is condensation on the cold line.The line is open to the utility room and now through the holes cut in ceiling where leak penetrated. Pipes are plastic and unisulated. Need a fix before we repair ceiling again. Jim

Hey back atch Dave,

You may try armo-flex insulation or a spray on insulation,(http://www.sprefix.com/moisture_insulation.htm). Good luck, Tom

j davis · Jun 29, 2005, 04:30 AM

Thanks for reply. Should all openings to pipes be sealed as well? Jim

speedball1 · Jun 29, 2005, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j davis

Thanks for reply. Should all openings to pipes be sealed as well? Jim

If the areas that pipes are open to is air conditioned I would say no as you need all the dry air you can get around the pipes. Cheers Tom

Upstairs shower leaking to 1st floor ceiling

Add your answer here.

Check out some similar questions!