Hi,

I am in the process of identifying and looking for the possibility to fix a second floor shower leak. This is five-year-old single-family house. Several months ago, I happened to find some water markers on the ceiling when I laid down on the first floor for a break. These water markers are three strips around rectangles edges and one light and circular marker likely to be in the center. It matched location and size of the show pan in the master bedroom on the second floor. I thought the leaking might be caused by the worn-out calk where the title hit the edge of shower pan (according to the strip shape of the water markers on the first floor ceiling). I removed all old caulk around the entire edge of the show pan. I caulked the joint between the entire tile and pan carefully. It seemed I worked out for weeks – I checked the ceiling on the first floor and looked to me the ceiling was dry. However, one night, I found (may be 2-3 weeks later after caulking), water even dropped down to the first wood floor.

We have stopped using the shower for a couple of months. I have checked the rubber gasket between the shower base and the drain pipe, they look tight and fine to me. I don’t how to test it and identify where is the exact leaky spot and then decide what to do next. I thank anyone in advance for any help.


Charles

Hi Charles,

" I have checked the rubber gasket between the shower base and the drain pipe, they look tight and fine to me. I don’t how to test it and identify where is the exact leaky spot and then decide what to do next."

Are you saying the between the lip of the drain and the shower base there's a rubber gasket? If so the drain was installed wrong. The installation goes like this.
First you run a ring of plumbers putty or silicon jell under the lip of the drain body. Then before you set the drain in the shower base you first put the
Large retaining nut over the trap raiser, then the fiber friction washer and last and next to the bottom of the shower base will go the rubber washer. Only then you set the drain and squeeze out and remove the excess sealant. Thread and tighten the nut, friction washer and rubber gasket down. That's how a shower drain's set. To test if the shower pan's leaking from the drain, remove the strainer and plug the drain off with rags. Then run a inch of water in the shower pan and make a pencil mark at the water level. Let it set over night. Next morning check for moisture or id the water level's fallen. Good luck, Tom

Wow, thank you so much for your speedy reply.
I believe that I have delivered my information wrong - what I meant was I looked over the drain open from inside the shower pan where water runs into the drain along the pipe (from second floor down to the first floor). Anyway, I will test it as you instructed.

Again thank you!


Charles