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carolh8445 · Apr 5, 2013, 09:03 PM

Water is coming out under shower pan where caulking is bad. It only leaks after a shower and/or emptying a bucket of water for handwashing clothes.

Before last shower, I poured several buckets worth of water into shower (to see if that is when it leaks because not all the time). No water outside of caulking on edge of shower pan onto floor. Did several times.

Later showered. Got out and NO WATER - COMPLETELY DRY floor. But about 10 minutes later, saw a very little moisture on the caulking. I used tissue to dry and the tissue soaked up so much water... several times... which means I do have water under the shower pan.

Only about 2 years old... with tile walls about it. Feel maybe the shower drain was not sealed correctly?? I took cover off drain. I see a gray soft plastic pipe like item that has a wider rim... supposedly to seal it?? Not sure what to do or how to check or fix. Any ideas??

speedball1 · Apr 5, 2013, 10:39 PM

Let's check both the pan and the drain at the same time, First, stop off the drain and fill the shower floor with a inch or so of water and let it set fore 10 minutes. Keep c hecking for leaks. If you see any then pull the plug and let the water out. You have a leak in the shower pan. If no leaks
And you get leaks then it's in the trap or drainage pipes.
Now if you don't get any floods out of that then I'd be giving a hard look at the grout where the shower stream hits the grout on the tiles. Good luck, Tom

carolh8445 · Apr 6, 2013, 11:36 PM

I could not stop it for long. But I think it was for at least 10 minutes. And there was no leaks.

I strongly feel that the leak is not at the top seal but is down below where the pipe piece from the shower pan drain is inserted into the pin in the ground. Because it does not happen every shower. I believe it is just when I pour a lot of water down the drain all at once... thinking that it goes down the pipe and some comes back up because of the force. And that is when it leaks under shower pan.

I do not have the brass drain device. I only have a gray pipe with a gray like seal piece between the gray pipe and the shower pan drain hole.

I do not know if we can remove the pipe and seal so we can see if there is mold under the shower pan. I do not want to have to remove entire shower pan and tile walls to fix this. I cannot afford the time of the repair nor the cost. I am disabled and cannot afford the time away from MY SHOWER that I can use.

My uncle told me to call a MOLD expert to check on it. If it has been leaking off and on for a couple years, it can be serious. I do not know what to do?? Any advice??

speedball1 · Apr 7, 2013, 10:23 AM

I could not stop it for long. But I think it was for at least 10 minutes. And there was no leaks.

If you stopped off the drain, filled the base and had no leaks then the pan and drain passed the test. But that doesn't jive with your opening statement where you say,

Water is coming out under shower pan where caulking is bad. It only leaks after a shower and/or emptying a bucket of water for handwashing clothes.

And now you say.

I strongly feel that the leak is not at the top seal but is down below where the pipe piece from the shower pan drain is inserted into the pin in the ground.

So now it leaks at a drain pipe where it goes under ground.
You go on to tell me that,

I believe it is just when I pour a lot of water down the drain all at once... thinking that it goes down the pipe and some comes back up because of the force. And that is when it leaks under shower pan.

That's impossible! If the pipe didn't leak when you poured water down the drain it should leak under the pan if it backs up. Can you explain all this so I can understand ? Back to you, Tom

carolh8445 · Apr 7, 2013, 04:57 PM

Tom,
I am saying it is the attachment point of the pipe piece that is attached to my shower pan drain and the P-trap pipe connection that is leaking.

I talked with a man at church today. He is coming tomorrow. So I think I will find out tomorrow. Thanks for all you help. He said if it is leaking where I described above, because I am on the ground floor, he will have to remove the shower pan to fix it. I am not happy about that. He is also bringing some MOLD detection tools with him so we can evaluate that. I had no idea he did this kind of work so I am so thankful to find him!! He told me some kinds of mold and some places where it is is fairly easy to eliminate. So we are hoping this to be true. Of course if he has to remove the shower pan, we will definitely see how much!! I still hope we do not have to do this!!
Thanks, Carol

speedball1 · Apr 8, 2013, 04:10 PM

Are you on a cement slab or do you have a basement or crawl space? Back to you, Tom