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jose1967 · May 27, 2008, 12:01 PM

Hi,
Had a new shower put in recently but it is leaking it drips downstairs but not sure where leak is coming from? Has anybody any ideas where leak is coming from? If I take out shower where is the best place to check for leak? It is just drips not heavy leak but it is irritating as you have a sjhower then we are downstairs you can see the drips. I am scratching my head thinking of what to do next so would be very grateful for any ideas or help.

Jose:(

ballengerb1 · May 27, 2008, 12:10 PM

Remove the handle and escutcheon plate to see if your mixing valve leaks or even the verticle pipe to the shwer head. You will need a flashlight. The leak my be only when the mixer is tuned on. If you hired someone to do the install you should call them back to fix this issue free of charge. Does it leak 24/7 or just when the shower is in use?

jose1967 · May 28, 2008, 10:07 AM

It only leaks when the shower is on and just drips. You only see the drips whenthe person comes out of the shower. Where do you think it is dripping from there is no mixer tap it is a free standing shower cubicle so no mixer tap. We have 1 large head and a smaller head and small jets. We only ever use the large showr head which does not move. Do you think the leak is coming from the column where the jets and shower head is? Is it best to take the column to bits to check if leaks are coming from there as I think myself this is where it is coming from.

ballengerb1 · May 28, 2008, 10:29 AM

All showers have valves, does your water supply have one handle or two. One handle is a mixing valve. Did you see any water inside the hole in the wall where the valve is located? If it only happens when people get out of the shower maybe it is a seam on the floor that lets water between the floor and the shower pan. Check for good caulking.

jose1967 · May 28, 2008, 11:35 AM

What is caulking?

speedball1 · May 28, 2008, 11:52 AM

It only leaks when the shower is on and just drips. You only see the drips whenthe person comes out of the shower.

Are you saying the shower only drips when weight is put on the shower floor or that it only drips when someone opens the shower door? Please explain farther.
Before I tore the shower raiser apart I nwouls give a real close look at the seams of your shower enclosure. The caulking Bob was speaking of is the compound used to make those seams water tight. Check where the stream from the shower head hits the walls. Good luck, Tom

jose1967 · May 28, 2008, 12:05 PM

Yes the shower only leaks when weight is put on the shower floor. Have ran the shower when nobdy is in and you do not get any drips and does not leak it only happens when someone is in the shower. Do you think will need to take up the shower tray to see where it is leaking?

speedball1 · May 28, 2008, 12:24 PM

Well Jose,

Yes the shower only leaks when weight is put on the shower floor

with that you just put the focus on the drain lip seal,(see image) Whe4n the shower was installed the plumber put a ring of plumbers putty or Silicon Jel under the lip of the drain for a seal. If the shower base has been improperly installed without bedding the base with mortar or cement it will flex a bit when weight is put on it. In time this will rupture the drain seal and it m ust be replaced. The solution would be to open up the ceiling and loosen the big nut on the drain to where you can clean out from under the lip and make a new seal. Tighten the nut, wipe off the excess and the drain is sealed again. However, your problem doesn't stop there. If you don't want to do all this again you will have to puddle mortar or cement under the base to prop it up so it doesn't give when someone steps into the shower. Brace it up near the drain real good. Good luck, Tom