I live in a 2 story condo. While taking a shower upstairs, water came cascading down through ceiling to down stairs unit. Tried to duplicate leak and could not.
1. tub spout turned on hot only for 5 min, no leaks
2. tub spout turned on cold only for 5 min, no leaks.
3. took off shower head and capped off shower spout, turned on for 5 min, no leaks
4. put shower head back on, got in shower, sprayed walls, jumped up and down around drain for 15 minutes, no leaks
5, cut holes in ceiling, sheet rock is wet, but cannot see any leaking pipes.
water stains on ceiling, indicating it has had small leak before.
no fancy shower valve, hot and cold handles, and diveter handle for shower. This is a tub and shower combo.
flushed toilet 20x just in case.
what would cause this intermitant leak??

Try standing in it when doing it... I'm thinking the weight is flexing something enough to present a sizable leak through a cracked grout joint or a clalked point that has become detached.

And without the added weight that effected spot is fitting tightly enough together to not leak.

Standing... not jumping... maybe moving around a bit as you would during a normal shower.

If that does nothing get a flashlight and start looking reall close at where things fit together... if it looks suspect... then it might be.

smoothy,
Thanks for your speedy reply. I have filled the tub (steel enamel) with water up to overflow hole. Sealed drain hole.
1. let stand for 15 min and no leak down.
2.got in, walked around, standing everywhere. Then repeated bouncing (flexing legs) around, still no leaks.
3. sprayed water around and into overflow hole, no leaks.
4. sprayed water around all eschuton (trim covers), no leaks
5. sprayed water around sliding glass door no leaks on floor.

Does this rule out the shower? Just in case, I did run the bathroom sink, no leaks. And the kitchen sink, no leaks.

Thanks.

Answered a couple things I wasn't sure about...

Was there a chance that day you got a lot more water on the floor outside the tub/shower than you normally would?

Was this on the upper floor of the building? Was there heavy rain with a lot of wind that day?

Trying to see if there was another event that's possible to explain it as well.

Answered a couple things I wasn't sure about...

Was there a chance that day you got a lot more water on the floor outside the tub/shower than you normally would?
if i take shower there is no water on floor, but i wasn't taking the shower. i am thinking this is the only possbility, but it was alot of water coming downstairs. i am going to pour water on floor next.

Was this on the upper floor of the building? Was there heavy rain with a lot of wind that day?
is on top floor. sunny day, no wind, no water on roof.

Trying to see if there was another event thats possible to explain it as well.
It sure is a mystery, anything else I should try when I am there? Might put hose into vent pipe on roof.
Thanks

No need to put a hose on the vent pipe... you can force water into things it would never get into otherwise.. even during a hurricane if you aren't careful.

Hey Ted.
I picked you up over at the RX7 thread, what type of shower do you have? Is it a custom style or a plastic surround type? Let's try a little test. Remove the strainer from the shower drains and block the hole with damp rags. Fll the base with water and let it set. Watch the ceiling. For moisture and get back to me if you see any. If no moisture is seen then we will try more checks. Good luck, Tom

tom,
tried that and more as described two replies up. It is 4x4 tile with 1/4" grout. i found a small possible leak. on the shower side tile wall and the aluminum vertical rail (jamb) of sliding glass door. water goes in thru 1/4" grout depression, then drains down to joint between tile wall and tub, then into wall, down to ceiling. It never comes out anywhere (to floor) on bathroom side since every thing was sealed with good silicone bead. Removed 2" tile strip from top of tub to floor on bathroom side, and sheet rock was damp w/mold (old leak) 12" up from floor on bathroom side. It was installed 3/4" above floor (not wicking water from floor) today I am taking down sliding glass door structure and sealing every joint. This accounts for previous ceiling staining with no actual water leaking down as it is a small amount. This time it was a large amount of clear water raining down from ceiling. I am still concerned that I found an on going small leak, but haven't found the new big leak.

thank you smoothy and tom

Hopefully that will resolve your problem.

It helps to have someone else make suggestions of where to look because sometimes you can sit there and look right at a problem and not see it... and that's usually after frustration sets in...

Been there myself more than a few times... and probibly will again.

I have filled the tub (steel enamel) with water up to overflow hole. Sealed drain hole.

Note the "sealed drain hole" part in above statement.

Sounds like a leaking overflow gasket to me. Fill tub and let water run out overflow. If you get water in ceiling replace overflow gasket.

Thank you harold
The sealed drain hole was the one at bottom of tub. The leak occurred during a shower. Baths are never taken, even so I sprayed water all around and in overflow hole and still no leak !

I think you have done everything you can at this time. I guess you will have to wait for it to occur again.

Being this is a tub... is it fiberglass or arcrylic? Cast Iron? Do you have a second set of eyes that can look with a strong light around the wall to tub calkline while you are standing in it.

That's low enough to ne be easy to see well... and those (fiberglas or Arcylic) tend to flax the most and I bet they put only one little pile of mortar or something dead center for support and no place else... and if you get to the back or sides you might have enough flex to open up a calk joint that's no longer bonded to wall and tub both.

I wish it was plastic. But it is cast iron or steel w/ enamel, with good solid 4x4 tile/grout surround. I stood in it and walked around when it was full, I am heavier than person who was taking shower. Also sprayed walls with more water than any shower for 15 minutes. Is there a dye that might show a crack? Don't want to wait for it to occur again as ceiling has holes that I cut and must be repaired, textured, painted, as well as that owner should not have to put up with another surprise leak.

Ok... was just a thought and good to put it out there to put it to rest... this is one of those times you have to find the problem by eliminating what it isn't.

Problem with using a dye... is you need to know where the leak is happening... and if you knew where it was happening you could fix it. Besides a dye might cause problems with most paints over time with bleeding.