View Full Version : Leaking Shower Pan
 
 md72
Jun 18, 2007, 07:47 PM
I have a 9 yr old house with a concrete slab foundation.  On the first floor, the shower is on an outside wall.  I am noticing what appears to be moisture on the outside, at the brick line down into the foundation.  It is in a triangular pattern pointing down.  Therefore I don't think it is coming from the ground up.  I check it before taking a shower and no moisture is present.  I take it afterwards and the moisture appears on the foundation.  I have heard that fiberglass shower pans can leak, but I don't know how.  I don't see any cracks and the chaulking appears OK.  Before a plumber assesses it, can anybody let me know other ways it can leak?  I'd like to be educated before having a plumber out.  Thanks.
 speedball1
Jun 19, 2007, 04:54 AM
Do you have a tile shower or a manufactured shower enclosure?
Let's locate the source.  Remove the strainer and blow up a balloon and tie it off in the drain or jam some wetr rags down the drain to close it off.  Run a inch or so of water in the pan and let it set.  Did moisture show up?   Let me know.  Good luck,  Tom
 md72
Jun 27, 2007, 05:56 AM
Thanks for the suggestion.  This is a fiberglass style pan, not a tile pan.  After further testing it appears that my caulking around the base of the pan and tile wall was the problem.  While I thought the small cracks were not a problem, I recaulked and ran the shower for an extended period.  This appears to have fixed the problem.  I've spoken with a few others and apparently even small cracks in grout/caulking can cause a problem.  I'll continue to monitor it.  Thanks again.