Ask Me Help Desk - Leaking shower drain

Hi, I read other questions submitted about leaking drains and I think that is what I have as well. I have an acrylic shower pan with a metal drain on my 2nd floor. I have had a leak on my dining room ceiling just below. I have had the ceiling opened up and had a plumber look above without finding a problem. I tried have had the shower recaulked and then had the ceiling closed because we let the shower run for 20 minutes without seeing any problems looking directly beneath the shower through the open ceiling. Of course as soon as I had the ceiling closed and we used the shower, we got the same leak. A neighbor suggested that the drain may have come loose from the strainer plate or in that area and that the leak may only happen when the weight of a person is standing in the shower putting pressure on the plate and the drain. Is that possible? It was coming close to the holidays so I had the ceiling fixed again and just used a different shower. Well here I am 8 months later and still haven't done anything. Is there anything I can do without having to rip out the shower? Will the wing tite drain replacement be the answer? Thank you. Anthony

Quote:

we let the shower run for 20 minutes without seeing any problems looking directly beneath the shower through the open ceiling. Of course as soon as I had the ceiling closed and we used the shower, we got the same leak. A neighbor suggested that the drain may have come loose from the strainer plate or in that area and that the leak may only happen when the weight of a person is standing in the shower putting pressure on the plate and the drain. Is that possible?

BINGO! Buy that neighbor the best drink in the house.
Sure sounds like the shower was never bedded in at installation and the drain seal has ruptured. What's happening is that the shower floor needs to be supported or it will Flex when someone steps into it. In time that will rupture the seal under the drain lip,(see image) allowing water to leak past. This is a common complaint and I'm amazed that your plumber didn't pick up on it.
The solution is to open up the ceiling one more time and loosen the large nut on the drain and clean out the old seal and form a new one under the lip using plumbers putty ot silicon jel. As long as you're back under there take mortar or cement and puddle it under the shower floor and around the drain so this doesn't happen again. Good luck, Tom

Hi Anthony:

I know you won't like to hear some of this...but here is how I think this should have gone down:

First thing I check when I investigate shower leaks is the shower valve itself. I remove the handle and faceplate and I use a flashlight to investigate in behind the wall for leaks... must run the shower while doing this. Look at the valve body and then at the shower pipe going vertical.

If all dry then I will investigate all the other stuff I am sure you already have from above, like caulking any gaps, regrouting, and checking OUTSIDE the shower for any obvious low points that water may be able to travel over too and then leak through to the downstairs.

NEXT, when that ceiling was opened, I think the plumber should have FILLED the shower pan with water for a 12-24 hour test!!! Here, plumber installs a TEST BALL in the drain and then fills the base of the shower to as high as possible and goes away for the night.

20 minutes of running water is not a test! If the actual strainer is the issue then water running down drain will not necessarily show up at the strainer as a leak (it might if you were stepping in and around the strainer during the 20 minutes).

Anyway, the wing-tite strainer assembly is a great thing, and may be helpful here... BUT, first I think you need to be sure of what the issue is.

Here is what I would do at this point:

I would open up the ceiling... again, and I would perform the pan test as recommended, but first thing will be to run water and move around INSIDE the shower and see if that shows anything. Then get up and physically touch the strainer asssembly from below and see if wetted.

If not, purchase a test ball from a local plumbing supply house (see pic. Below), insert in drain and then blow it up to 30PSI or so with a bicycle pump and fill the shower pan to be sure the pan itself is nopt leaking and to give the strainer assembly time to have the leak show up.

Otherwise, you could just replace the strainer with the wing-tite strainer... but I would prefer to see you test entire pan and strainer assembly so you will know for sure what the issue is!

That's how I would do it... ;)

Let us know what you think... MARK

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Hey Anthony:

Tom and I were posting at the same time.

He is right... if there is significant flex in the pan when you step in then most surely will find the strainer is culprit.

Read up on both answers... let us know what you think.
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Tom/Mark, Thank you both very much for such a quick response. It looks like I will have to get another plumber out. I was hoping for an easy fix. I think there is significant flex in the pan so I will probably have to get it replaced or reinforced. If I weren't all thumbs I would take a shot at it. If it were the wing-tite, I would have had a prayer. Hahaha! Thanks, Anthony

Let us know what the new plumber suggests... glad to help here!