Ask Me Help Desk - Leak from my bathtub down to 1st floor

Leak from my bathtub down to 1st floor

I have a tub on my second floor and have noticed in my downstairs bathroom that my wall is damp directly under my 2nd floor tub.

I looked and it looks like the seal around the tub is not sealed properly. Can I just fix that seal? Can I just caulk it?

I am an idiot when it comes to any type of home repair so any help is greatly appreciated.

Also, now that there is a leak do I have to worry about mold or any other issues? Not sure how long this leak has been going on??

Quote:

I looked and it looks like the seal around the tub is not sealed properly. Can I just fix that seal? Can I just caulk it?

Yes you can replace a ruptured drain seal. First you Must remove the drain from the tub shoe, (seem images). To do this you will need a removal tool,(see image) and a tube of silicon Jel or a can of plumbers putty.
Place the removal tool in the cross bars o9f the drain and back it out counter clockwise. Clean up the old seal. Now make a ring of plumbers putty or load the drain lip up with SiliconJel and thread the drain back in using the tub tool.
Wipe off the excess putty or jel and you're fimished.
Be aware that if the tub flexes or gives a bit when you step into it that this puts a strain on the seal that may rupture it in the future. If the tub does, indeed, give when you step on the tub floor click on back and tell me about it. Regards, Tom

Speedball,

Sorry but I think my initial post may have been misleading. I believe my leak is coming from the seal at the top of my tub to the wall. There is a rubber seal around the top of the tub to the bathroom wall. This seal is no longer tight. I think that is where the water is leaking down the wall.

I don't think it has anything to do with the drain.

Quote:

There is a rubber seal around the top of the tub to the bathroom wall. This seal is no longer tight. I think that is where the water is leaking down the wall.

My bad! I misread your question. Yes, remove the old rubber seal and caulk with Dap White Tub and Tile caulk. Let it set overnight to cure. Good luck, Tom