My house was built in 2005 and had a crack in the shower elbow about six months after I moved in. Luckily at the time the house was still covered by a warranty and the builder cut away the dry wall (above the fiberglass shower) and found that the elbow had a crack. I was amazed this could have happened, but didn't question it too much.

Recently I noticed that again the same symptoms (leaking in the unfinished basement) through the access hole when the shower is on(just the shower, not when the tub is just running).

This time I am on my own and will be fixing it myself! At this point, I have not confirmed that it is the elbow, but am leaning towards it.

Does anyone know why I could be having this issue?

We don't put too much weight on the shower(it is a hand held). If it is because of the small weight of the hand held shower (when hung up) is there a suggestion for support?

I am using the same shower head, could it be that?

Could it be that the builder just buys really bad plumbing parts (failed after 6 months, then 1.5 years?)

Any other suggestions would be helpful, including the best way to cut dry wall without hacking pipe behind the wall.

Thanks

Hey Brogie:

First, start by pulling the chrome ring from around the chrome shower ARM forward... run the shower and see if you see a leak at the area threads connect into the shower ELBOW. If can't see threads/elbow behind wall then...

Time to remove the handle and face plate from your shower VALVE and then run the shower again. Use a flashlight to investigate BEHIND the wall while water runs. What do you see.. Look everywhere.

The handle will have a screw under a cap that "pops" out (moen/symmons valves) or will have an allen screw (need allen wrench to remove) on bottom side of handle (kohler, american standard, etc.). The face plate should just have screws holding chrome plate in place.

Start there and see what YOU can see. Let us know what you find/don't find.

Mark.

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