View Full Version : Bathtub leaks
window
Nov 14, 2005, 11:11 AM
I have a 2d floor bathtub with a shower. Whenever someone takes a bath, water leaks down to the 1st floor bathroom. It was so bad I had to have the ceiling in the downstairs bathroom replaced. This only happens when someone takes a bath, not when someone uses the shower. I recently had a plumber replace the assembly that controls the bathtub drain because we thought that's what was causing the leak. He ran the shower for a good 5 minutes and no water appeared downstairs. At the time, I didn't realize that the leak was apprent only when someone used the tub. Well, someone took a bath and the leak started again. I was told that while they were taking a bath, the water was leaking from the tub. How can that be? Help!
speedball1
Nov 14, 2005, 12:45 PM
Water from a shower hasn't the volume that draining a bath tub has. There should be a tub access hole behindthe drain. Open itup and fill the tub and let it drain. Pay close attention you the joints at the drain and the trap connection. Let me know what you find. What did you find when the ceiling was open before you patched it?
Tom
window
Nov 14, 2005, 05:30 PM
I'm lost. When I'm inside the tub, I see no holes of any sort. Are you asking me to unscrew the assembly that has the lever that controls the opening & closing of the drain? My tub is not free standing. It is surrounded by a ceramic tile wall. How can I see any leaks? When the tub leaks, the water shows up in the 1st floor ceiling around the heating ductwork. I tried looking up there with a fashlight, but there is now clear view. Thank you for your reply.
colbey
Nov 14, 2005, 11:59 PM
The access panel will be "behind" the tub. Look at the wall the tub handles and faucet come out of. Now go into the room on the other side of that wall. There will be an access panel on that wall in the other room. There's a good chance it will be inside a closet.
Take off that panel and fill the tub and watch the pipes back there while the tub drains. Look for any leaking all along those pipes.
HTH!
window
Nov 15, 2005, 06:17 PM
Unfortunately, there is no room behind the tub. The other side if the wall is the wall on the stairway and there is no opening. Anything else I can do?
colbey
Nov 15, 2005, 06:31 PM
Beyond me. I only rented one place where there was no access to the tub plumbing. It's obviously there, but I'm certainly not going to say "knock a hole in the stairwell wall." someone else would have to suggest that! And maybe it can be accessed through the floor or something.
speedball1
Nov 16, 2005, 06:14 AM
Window,
In your first post you said," I have a 2d floor bathtub with a shower. Whenever someone takes a bath, water leaks down to the 1st floor bathroom. It was so bad I had to have the ceiling in the downstairs bathroom replaced."
Why wasn't this leak repaired when the ceiling was open and the leak exposed?
No matter, you're paying for this oversight at the present time.
I don't see any way out but to open up a way to get in and repair it.
You can cut a square hole in the ceiling, repair the leak and tape and patch the square back or you can cut a tub access hole in the stairwell, frame it and paint it to match. If you continue to use the tub you're eventually going to have ceiling damage so why not bite the bullet and open up a access port and repair it? Let us know what you decide. Tom
" Knowing the plumbing problem has to be corrected in the common area, I feel the Association should pay for the repair."
The Associations argument's going to be that it's your tub that has the leak, and that your tub isn't in "the common area". Your leak, your expense no matter where they have to repair it from.
Sorry Window, but that's the way I see it. Good luck, Tom
forsythia
Mar 26, 2007, 07:17 AM
I live on the second floor in a condo with the lobby/hallway under my unit. Knowing the plumbing problem has to be corrected in the common area, I feel the Association should pay for the repair.
benz2114
Jul 18, 2010, 07:23 PM
My second floor tub leaked through to the first floor ceiling ceiling fell and even when u flush tiolet it pours right down. What is this and what would the average cost be?
afaroo
Jul 18, 2010, 07:39 PM
Hello Benz,
This is a aprox. 5 years old post, start a new post and one of us will respond to you, Thanks.
John