[ashwed]

Hi,

Our shower/tub combo leaks only when someone takes a bath. This was discovered by water pouring out of our ceiling below the bathroom. We replaced the caulking around the tub thinking the leak was from our daughter splashing water around when bathing. However, tonight when she was bathing water started pouring out of the ceiling.

Tub is old. The cross bars on the drain are gone and we are unsure how to remove the flange and replace as the old flange has rust and now I'm thinking this is the source of the leak.

So... 1. what is the likely source of the leak? 2. how do we remove the existing flange?

Your advice/answers are most appreciated!

[grammadidi]

I don't know much about these things but I had a similar situation a number of years ago. It turned out that the pipe for the overflow was smaller than it should have been so the overflow in the tub was draining down the inside of the wall and down into the ceiling in the basement (including the light in the bathroom downstairs!). So if I were you, I'd remove the overflow cover and check that out first.

Good luck!

Didi

[massplumber2008]

I agree with Gdidi...

When your daughter baths is the water up close to they overflow cover plate... even a litle close? If so, then more likely than the "drain flange" is that the overflow rubber seal BEHIND the tub is dried up and failed... ;)

Here, to test, fill the tub to the overflow plate and see if the leak shows up as the water goes over the plate. If it does you found the leak. If water leaks before reaching the overflow then the drain flange is the issue, but I doubt that or it would probably show up when showering as well.

If the leak is at the overflow plate, you would loosen the screws at the overflow plate and check the condition of the rubber seal behind the tub (accessed through the front of the tub). The seal could simply be dried out and if that is the case, you would go to home depot and purchase a replacement seal. You could even just try tightening the overflow screws right now and then fill the tub again to test... may fix it, but if not, replace the gasket and then fill tub and check your work.

Let us know what you find, OK?

Mark

[ashwed]

I took the overflow plate off and there is rust present and the seal is flattened at the top and one side. Now my question is how do I get this seal off and how do I put a new one on? It seems as though the hole is too small to do either.

I filled the tub with water and let it sit and no water leaked. Of course I drained the tub and none leaked at that time either. So I am going to replace this seal which looks to be in poor condition to me and then I'll test the overflow.

Again thank you for the advice/information!

[ashwed]

ack! I took the old gasket out and when I was doing so the drain flange at the bottom of the tub just came loose. What the heck? Now there is no drain flange and it was terrible condition. So I will replace the drain flange and the gasket. Will a new drain flange install easily even though just the top portion just popped off? There are no cross bars below. Help please. =)

[massplumber2008]

Hi Ashwed...

Doesn't sound good, for sure! The drain assembly threads into what is called the tub shoe which is under the tub. See if the remaining parts have thgreads and if so see if you can grab at the remaining part and loosen it counterclockwise...

If you have any more trouble you may need to get creative and cut a notch into the drain assembly and loosen the part using a hammer and chisel... *UGH*

It could even be that the whole TUB WASTE AND OVERFLOW ASSEMBLY needs to be replaced. Here, you would need access to the backside of the tub drain...

Back to you...

Mark

[ashwed]

There is access to the tub from the back wall in adjoining room. Will access the backside tomorrow with help of brother in law. Thank you for your help!