What is the best way to find a leak in the shower. I have put new grout in between the tiles , and sealer around the tub, and check all the plumbing, which seems to be fine and still have a leak.

 

geo12,

Could you help us out a little more?

Where is the leak going to? on floor, into a ceiling below, onto a wall next to the shower? help us help you.

Waiting to assist.

 

Yes we need more info. Does this leak seem to be a constant thing, or only show after using the shower? Like Doug said, we need to know WHERE it is showing up as well.

 

The shower is leaking on to the ceiling below

 

geo12,

When you say you checked all the plumbing and it seemed fine, answer these for me;

1. Do we have a single handle shower?
2. Have you removed the face plate, ran the shower and see if anything leaks? i.e. from showerhead, valve body fittings (use a small mirror and flashlight
3. How old is the shower?
4. How is the floor drain assembly?
5. Since your ceiling is showing evidence of leaking when are you going to open it up and look?

I hope these questions help?

 

Answer to your question it is not a single shower handle I did check the the pipes and and fittings no leaks the shower is 20 years old You can see it dripping from the corner of the tub between tub and wall

 

geo12,

OK, we have a tub/shower to contend with. So, does the leak occur only when the shower is in operation or when the tub water is filling?

Have you checked the tub spout - does this have teflon tape on the threads or is it a compression fitting tub spout (for copper pipes)? It may be possible that the lack of teflon tape may be creating a "backwards leak" which sends water back along the pipe and goes between the ceramic tile and backerboard?

I assume you are sure that the drain assembly and fittings are all tight as well?

Also check the shower arm for teflon tape and make sure that this has not been leaking.

Let us know how it is going?

 

i HAVE COVER THE SHOWER WALLS WITH PLASTIC AND IT DOES NOT LEAK THAT IS WHY I KNOW THE PIPES ARE OK, i HAVE PUT NEW GROUT AND SEALER AROUND THE TUB AND IT IT WILL START TO LEAK AFTER ONE SHOWER BUT i CAN NOT SEE ANY DEFECTS IN THE GROUT OR AROUND THE TUB SEALER

 

Lefty,

Help me out here, am I suggesting the wrong things to look at. Geo12 appears to have done things to ensure that not leaks are coming from within the tub/shower area. He says that the pipes don't leak but if it still does, wouldn't we be looking at possibly at a tub spout, showerarm leak or what?

Leak is between tub and wall?

HELP, ANYBODY!!

 

Close the stopper on the tub, now fill it all the way up to past the overflow, watch below, as it's filling up watch below, if it starts leaking before it gets to the overflow, then it maybe at the tub drain on bottom of tub, if it leaks after it reaches above the overflow, then maybe the overflow gasket on the tub.

 

Plumber2000,

How would the water get between the tub and wall at the floor within the bathroom that geo12 is talking about through the tub overflow or drain?

Could it be possible that the tub spout could be creating pressure when the shower is in use and leaking behind it?

I never really did ask if the leak was present when the tub was in use or shows up only when the shower isin operation but it appears that the leak is coming from the shower but I did ask about all fitting but you have a point about the drain and overflow. I was just wondering if he had opened up the ceiling below to really take a good look.

Thanks for the input, maybe we can get this resolved easily.

 

Right I read the post over.

GEO12

You say you checked the pipes and fitting, are you saying you opened up the wall or ceiling to see them?

You Say, You can see it dripping from the corner of the tub between tub and wall. What corner you talking about, left or right back corner, left or right front corner?

Is the drip your seeing is it on the same wall as the valve is on?

Still do those others test I mentioned

Also make sure you have the trim calked including the spout, these need to be water tight, water can get into some of the tightest spots if you let it.

 

Geo12, when you covered the walls with plastic and that stopped the leak, it pretty much eliminated anything below the bottom of the plastic as being the problem. Try this. Rehang the plastic so that is about an inch BELOW the rim of the tub. Water test it with the shower head and see if the leak appears. If it doesn't leak, remove the plastic from one of the walls and test again. Keep uncovering the walls, one at a time, until the leak appears. NOW you know which wall the leak is in. I'm going to guess the leak is in the wall with the plumbing in it. Uncover that wall LAST. Once you have determined WHICH wall is leaking, post back and let us know.

You have the 3 of us guessing at this point, trying to tell you all of the possible places this leak could be coming from. That is just going to confuse you. We are just going to rule out possibilities until we find that leak. It may take a little time, but we WILL find it!!

Mike