I have a shower in my master bathroom. Water is seeping from under the pan. I believe it’s coming from where the drain and the shower pan connect. I can see a small “space” at this location. It seems that a gasket or putty has broken down over time. I took the drain cover off and used a flashlight to look in the drain. It looks to me like the drain pipe is just about level with the opening of the pan. There does not seem to be anything that I can “attach” a wrench or tool on to screw the spool out. I was thinking that if I replace the spool I would be able to replace the seal that was originally in place. The shower is on a concrete slab, so I would need to remove anything from inside the shower. Any suggestions?

The shower is on a concrete slab, so I would need to remove anything from inside the shower. This is a custom tile shower, yes?
Well that just brings up more questions. Was the shower built at the same time the house was built or was it added later? This shower's installed on the slab itsellf and not in a shower dap-out, ( a square that the cement men left recessed on the slab for a shower) Is this correct?
For openers you're not going to do a thing from inside the shower
Before I advise you what to doI hyve to know exactly what you have. How do you know you even have a shower pan? Did you install it yourself? Most of our showers that are built with the house are hot hot mopped in a shower dap-out. I speak from experience as all our buildings in my area are built on slabs. Different showers require different shower drains and I have to know what's hidden down there. Please give me all the details that you can. But The one thing I can tell you is that you'll most likely end up redoing the showe floor. Let me know exactly what you have and we'll take it from there. Regards, Tom

Thanks for the answer. I will try to answer as best as I can. The three walls and ceiling of the stall are titled, but the bottom looks like a pan. I am not sure if it's built up on cement. It's a few inches higher than the bathroom floor, but not by much. The shower was not build with the house. The pervious owners (orignal ownwer) took out the garage and installed an "In Law suite", so where the bathroom is now was originally the back of the garage. I live in a bi-levle so there is no basement. From what they told me the work was done about 25 year ago.

See image below

Let me know if you need more info







This is a custom tile shower, yes?
Well that just brings up more questions. Was the shower built at the same time the house was built or was it added later? This shower's installed on the slab itsellf and not in a shower dap-out, ( a square that the cement men left recessed on the slab for a shower) Is this correct?
For openers you're not gonna do a thing from inside the shower
Before I advise you what to doI hyve to know exactly what you have. How do you know you even have a shower pan? Did you install it yourself? Most of our showers that are built with the house are hot hot mopped in a shower dap-out. I speak from experience as all our buildings in my area are built on slabs. Different showers require different shower drains and I have to know what's hidden down there. Please give me all the details that you can. But The one thing I can tell you is that you'll most likely end up redoing the showe floor. Let me know exactly what you have and we'll take it from there. Regards, Tom

You don't have a shower pan, you have a molded shower base. Nice picture Can you give me a close up of the drain? Is that cast iron with a poured and caulked lead and okum joint that I see? And are those tile walls? This isn't as bad as when I thought you had a shower pan and a custom tile job. I think we can work with this without too much hassle. Get back with the information I requested. Regards, Tom

You don't have a shower pan, you have a molded shower base. Nice picture Can you give me a close up of the drain? Is that cast iron with a poured and caulked lead and okum joint that I see? And are those tile walls? This isn't as bad as when I thought you had a shower pan and a custom tile job. I think we can work with this without too much hassle. Get back with the information I requested. Regards, Tom

Hi tom,

Yes the walls are titled. Not sure of the join, but it does look like a okum joint. Below is a closeup picture of the drain. Let me know if there is anything else I can send. Thanks for your help. Regards

The drain is built into the base. It can't be removed. Let's start the repair.
You have two likely spots for a leak.
1) The lead joint. (The most likely) The good news is that the joint doesn't have to come out and be repacked. Let's nail it down for sure. Do this first.
Pack the drain with rags and fill the base wit a inch or so of water. Let it set for a few hours anhd check for water on the floor. If you see any let the water out and let me know at once. You have just located your problem.
2) Sometimes the tile grout shrinks over time where the shower stream hits the tile wall. This allows waste to run doun inside the drywall past the base and out on the floor. We'll check that after you check the lead joint.
Keep me informed. Tom

I pluged up the drain and let the base fill with water. I did not have to wait long. Within a few seconds water started seeping out from under the base. If I had to guess, I would think that the problem is between the drain and the base itself. Is there a way to fix this or do I need to call a plumer at this point?
Regards




The drain is built into the base. It can't be removed. Let's start the repair.
You have two likely spots for a leak.
1) The lead joint. (The most likely) The good news is that the joint doesn't have to come out and be repacked. Let's nail it down for sure. Do this first.
Pack the drain with rags and fill the base wit a inch or so of water. Let it set for a few hours anhd check for water on the floor. If you see any let the water out and let me know at once. You have just located your problem.
2) Sometimes the tile grout shrinks over time where the shower stream hits the tile wall. This allows waste to run doun inside the drywall past the base and out on the floor. We'll check that after you check the lead joint.
Keep me informed. Tom

Can you take a closer look at the pan and see if there is a hairline crack somewhere ? Go over it with your hand or fingernails and feel for cracks. Otherwise, you will have replace that drain seal and hope that what it was...

Also, it appears the pan has chrome flange. It may also be leaking from where the flange meets the pan...

Sounds like the lead seal needs to be recaulked. This isn't a difficult job.
You Perform caulking operations using an inside caulking iron first and then an outside caulking iron,(see images)( Rent a pair or inside and outside irons) Drive the lead down upon the oakum and into contact with the spigot surface on one edge and against the inner surface of the hub on the other. Strike the caulking iron gently but firmly with a hammer. Caulking the lead too tightly can crack the pipe. A cracked pipe or fitting must be replaced. Calk your drainand retest. Let me know the results. Tom