Ask Me Help Desk - Shower leak found

I have a square,fiberglass, one drain shower. I has had a leak for a while,but just noticed. Water is coming from the drain, not a leaking pipe. I believe there was to be some silicon or some other sealant between the shower base and the drain itself, but none is present.

Can I simply dry it out, use silicon or other? Do I need to rip out the entire shower, to get at the drain? Do I cut holes in the ceiling to accomplish same? Or is there some other easy way to repair what seems to be a simple challenge?

Appreciate your recommendation.
Danny

Quote:

Originally Posted by sagan99

I have a square,fiberglass, one drain shower. I has had a leak for a while,but just noticed. Water is coming from the drain, not a leaking pipe. I believe there was to be some silicon or some other sealant between the shower base and the drain itself, but none is present.

Can I simply dry it out, use silicon or other? Do I need to rip out the entire shower, to get at the drain? Do I cut holes in the ceiling to accomplish same? Or is there some other easy way to repair what seems to be a simple challenge?

Appreciate your recommendation.
Danny

Hi Danny,

I hate to break it to you but it looks like you're gonn hafta open up your ceiling.
You've lost the seal between the lip of the drain and the floor of the shower base.
Open up the ceiling , Make a square hole and save the cutout. You'll be taping it in later for a patch. The drain's secured by a large nut. Loosen it so you can lift the lip of the drain. Clean off the lip and the shower floor and apply a ring of plumbers putty or Silicon Gel to the lip and tighten the nut . Remove the excess sealant and give it time to set up. You have reset the drain. However if the shower floor "gives" or feels "spongy"then you'll have the same problem on down the line. Best to brace up the shower floor while you have the ceiling open. Good luck, Tom

http://www.plumbrite.com/

Thanks for your isight Tom - talk about fast!!
What are your thoughts on the above linked product??
Danny

Quote:

Originally Posted by sagan99

http://www.plumbrite.com/

Thanks for your isight Tom - talk about fast!!!
What are your thoughts on the above linked product????
Danny

I recommend Plumbrite drains all the time but you already have one and you're still going to have to remove it to install a Plumbrite. There's nothing wrong with the drain. It just lost its seal.
Regards, Tom

Thanks again Tom - you have enlughtened me!

When I cut the square... the drain pipe is between floor joists say 16 inches. How large should I cut the square, assuming the floor of the shower is squishy? What to re-enforce the shower floor with, if all I am doing is "taping the "square" back into it's original place?

Other tips - I have both silicon and plumbers putty... what is best?

One last thing - this drain securing nut... is it likely plastic? Or other and is it glued into place or will a slight tug of a pipe wrench do the trick?

Should be the last thing?

With all that you have given me, you should be running the Gulf Coast relief effort!
Danny
Calgary Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by sagan99

Thanks again Tom - you have enlughtened me!

When I cut the square....the drain pipe is between floor joists say 16 inches. How large should I cut the square, assuming the floor of the shower is squishy? What to re-enforce the shower floor with, if all I am doing is "taping the "square" back into it's original place?

Other tips - I have both silicon and plumbers putty...what is best?

One last thing - this drain securing nut...is it likely plastic? or other and is it glued into place or will a slight tug of a pipe wrench do the trick?

Should be the last thing?

With all that you have given me, you should be running the Gulf Coast relief effort!
Danny
Calgary Canada

Hi Danny,

(1)When I cut the square... the drain pipe is between floor joists say 16 inches. How large should I cut the square, assuming the floor of the shower is squishy? What to re-enforce the shower floor with, if all I am doing is "taping the "square" back into it's original place?

To loosen and reset the drain you'll need at least a 12 X12" square. This will give you enough to get in to work on the drain. Reinforcing the shower floor is another story. The shower base should have been supported at installation. Now it's setting on a floor and sub floor that's between you and the showerbase. However if you can get to it 2 X4's and plywood is what's most commonly used to brace a shower floor.
(2)I have both silicon and plumbers putty... what is best?
I'm a "old school plumber" I've always used putty with no complaints but if the floor "gives" when you step on it perhaps silicon jel would work best.
(3) this drain securing nut... is it likely plastic? Or other and is it glued into place or will a slight tug of a pipe wrench do the trick?
It's a large nut. It's not glued on and a large set of pliers or a pipe wrench should looses it. It the drains plastic then chances are the nut is also. The same for a metal one.

With all that you have given me, you should be running the Gulf Coast relief effort! Thanks! Tom