Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    sbick's Avatar
    sbick Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Oct 6, 2008, 05:45 PM
    Repairing leaky tiled shower drain
    I have a shower drain (25+ year old house) that is leaking into the ceiling. I've cut the ceiling and determined the leak is coming from the top most part of this drain:
    Name:  IMAG0024.jpg
Views: 4605
Size:  55.9 KB

    From the top of the shower, you'll see the drain is embedded into the tile - the debris is the remnants of a failed attempt to caulk the edge of the drain. It looks to me that the drain is embedded in the tile and cement that builds of the pan and tile. How should I attempt to repair this on my own? Thanks!
    Name:  IMAG0027.jpg
Views: 8859
Size:  69.9 KB
    Milo Dolezal's Avatar
    Milo Dolezal Posts: 7,192, Reputation: 523
    Plumbing Expert
     
    #2

    Oct 6, 2008, 08:46 PM

    From you posted photos, it appears to me you don't have proper shower drain head. That's the cause of your leak.

    Here is what's happening: Shower drain should have 3 holes in the side of it to accommodate condensation run off. Every time you turn hot water on, and hot water hits the tiled shower floor, it immediately creates condensation under the tile. If that condensation has no place to go, it then travels to the hole in the plywood cut around the drain - and down to your ceiling.

    Solution: break up shower floor. Install proper drain. Water proof shower floor ( hot mop or PVC liner ). Test for leaks. Install bed of new concrete and tile over it.
    sbick's Avatar
    sbick Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #3

    Oct 7, 2008, 06:18 AM

    Thanks for the quick answer Milo!

    Most of these houses have a lead shower pan under the tile - I think I see part of the pan ( the black area next to the hole in the plywood ).

    When I run the shower with cold water, I can feel moisture coming from the top of the pvc pipe where it meets at the top.

    Do you still recommend breaking up the shower floor to fix the leak?

    Thanks!

Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions

 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

What is normal pitch for tiled floor shower drain? [ 4 Answers ]

I'm having a handicap accessible bathroom built from scratch by a GC for my 8 year old daughter with CP. A plumber put in a floor drain and the tile company poured "mud" and tiled the floor. But the pitch is very shallow compared to others we have seen. I have put the brakes on the job until I...

Repairing 2nd floor shower drain [ 2 Answers ]

As others, my shower drain has leaked on to my first floor ceiling. Attached is a picture of the drain. Should there not be some type of sealent material to block the OD and ID voids?

Installing a shower drain for tiled floor [ 1 Answers ]

I am replacing our tub with a tiled shower. I am moving the drain to the center. Does the new drain for the tiled floor mount flush with the existing subfloor. The drain I purchase is labelled for tiled shower and has a bevel edge on the widest part of the drain and a screw drain to accommodate...

Leaking Tiled Shower Stall Floor Drain... [ 1 Answers ]

We had our shower stall replaced in 1998 due to the pan beneath the tile leaking... a new liner and re-tile job was done... well, now there is a wet spot below in the same spot and after opening the ceiling, I find that the plastic fitting going into the plastic floor hub is leaking. Looks like the...

Another leaky shower drain [ 4 Answers ]

Hi! A few weeks after moving into our (12 year old) house, we noticed moisture coming through the ceiling. The upstairs shower is right above the wet spot. We called our warranty company, and they sent out a technician who said that it was the shower drain, which has a crack in it (but of...


View more questions Search