View Full Version : Mobile Home Shower Stall Leaking from Base by Caulking
vwdeuce01
Aug 2, 2012, 06:59 AM
I have a 2006 Champion mobile home and there were two previous owners. I have had to fix a few issues here and there, but this one just surfaced. Anytime I take a shower (or anyone else for that matter), I'm noticing water all over the floor in front of the shower area. I started putting a towel down to catch the water thinking it was leaking from the gap under the shower door until I witnessed it actively leaking. After I got out of the shower and wiped up any water on the floor, I could see it leaking out of the right corner (closest to the knobs and showerhead side) where the caulking is around the base of the tub on the floor. I tried to remove the drain from the tub to see if there was an issue with the drain and couldn't get the drain cover loose. I felt like I was going to break the cover... Any help as to what the issue could be and how to go about fixing it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much for any advice or pointing me in the right direction.
vwdeuce01
Aug 2, 2012, 07:10 AM
I have a 2006 Champion mobile home and there were two previous owners. I have had to fix a few issues here and there, but this one just surfaced. Anytime I take a shower (or anyone else for that matter), I'm noticing water all over the floor in front of the shower area. I started putting a towel down to catch the water thinking it was leaking from the gap under the shower door until I witnessed it actively leaking. After I got out of the shower and wiped up any water on the floor, I could see it leaking out of the right corner (closest to the knobs and showerhead side) where the caulking is around the base of the tub on the floor. I tried to remove the drain from the tub to see if there was an issue with the drain and couldn't get the drain cover loose. I felt like I was going to break the cover... Any help as to what the issue could be and how to go about fixing it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much for any advice or pointing me in the right direction.
I apologize... When I say tub, I mean stand-up shower stall :) Thank you!
speedball1
Aug 2, 2012, 07:12 AM
I have a 2006 Champion mobile home and there were two previous owners. I have had to fix a few issues here and there, but this one just surfaced. Anytime I take a shower (or anyone else for that matter), I'm noticing water all over the floor in front of the shower area. I started putting a towel down to catch the water thinking it was leaking from the gap under the shower door until I witnessed it actively leaking. After I got out of the shower and wiped up any water on the floor, I could see it leaking out of the right corner (closest to the knobs and showerhead side) where the caulking is around the base of the tub on the floor. I tried to remove the drain from the tub to see if there was an issue with the drain and couldn't get the drain cover loose. I felt like I was going to break the cover... Any help as to what the issue could be and how to go about fixing it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much for any advice or pointing me in the right direction.
I worked for Champion as a line plumber back in the 70s. Sounds like the grout has shrunk allowing water to leak past the tub. The solution would be to dig out the old grout and recaulk. Good luck Tom
hkstroud
Aug 2, 2012, 08:18 AM
I guess my thoughts are a little different than Tom's. Also I am guessing that you probably have a fiberglass shower pan.
You have a leak in either the water supply piping or in the drain. I would first attempt to determine which. Get a 1/2" PVC pipe cap. Remove the shower head and screw the pipe cap onto the shower arm. Doesn't have to be very tight, just enough to stop the flow of water. Open the shower valve and wait for about the same amount of time as you normally shower.
If the leak is in the water supply piping the leak will appear. If it is in the shower pan or the drain pipe it will not.
You can then proceed with locating the source of the leak.