[me in the tub]

I am going to install a new standing shower. But the plumbing under the old one is leaking into the basement, you can see it drip down the pipe. What do I need to to make the leak stop? Also any other advice on installing a standing shower would be helpful, Im on a tight budget!!

[ballengerb1]

Is the leak happening 24/7 or just when the shower is in use? This will help us determine if it s drain leak, supply pipe leak or a mixer problem.

[me in the tub]

Only when the shower is turned on, when it is not in use it does not leak.

[speedball1]

only when the shower is turned on, when it is not in use it does not leak.

This puts the leak in eitherthe drain or the tile grout. Let's find out which it is.
Before you can begin to repair the leak you must first locate it. Some tests should be done before you open up the ceiling. Let's start with the drain. Before you go to bed remove the strainer and put some wet rags in a baggie and stuff them down the drain to seal it off. Now run about a inch or so of water in the shower floor and let it set over night. Make a pencil mark at the water level. Next morning check the mark and your ceiling. Water level down? Ceiling wet? No? Then let the water out and check the ceiling again. Still no wet on the ceiling? If the ceiling stays the same then it's a pretty safe bet the shower drain,trap and drain line's OK and the ceiling won't have to be opened up.
This places the leak in the tile grout. Tile grout shrinks over time and allows water to enter above and outside the shower pan where it will run past the pan and leak out onto the floor. To fix this note where the stream hits the tile when you're taking a shower and regrout the tiles in the area.
Good luck, Tom

[massplumber2008]

Hi All:

Just wanted to pop in and make sure that me in the tub also remembers to check the shower arm where it connects into the plumbing behind the wall.

Here, you pull the shower arm flange away from the wall and run the shower for a minute or so... look in hole in wall and see if you see a leak at where the shower arm joins the drop ear elbow (see picture below).

If unable to determine if this is leaking by just sliding the shower arm flange away from the wall then you may need to remove the handle and trim plate from the tub/shower valve itself and then run the shower and see if any water drips onto the tub/shower valve from above when the shower is being used.

Anyway... just want you to check the valve itself. Like Tom said, most likely the grout joints... but check the tub/shower valve and fittings above the floor too.

Good luck...

Mark

[ballengerb1]

Lots of ideas on how and when to check for a leak. I will try to go down a likely list starting with a drain leak. Fill a few buckets of water from another tap and then dump them into the shower pan. If your leak appears it's the pan, If no then lets turn the shower on full but catch every drop in a bucket a for few moments. If the leak appeared is the shwer arm or pipe from the mixer, maybe even the mixer. If no then the grout is suspect, imspect carefully especially at the base.