I have a tiled shower that had the pan replaced 5 years ago and has been doing fine until the other day when it started leaking around the front and side during a shower. I sealed of the drain and added 1/2" of water, after about 5 minutes it started leaking agian. Is there anything i can do or try before having the pan replaced agian. The retired plumber who installed the pan has since died but i am very confident in his workmanship. I just keep thinking i'm overlooking something.

Thanks

 

If the shower drain is removable, most likely what happened is the plumber's putty is thinning out, and causing it to leak.


I would gain access to the underside and see if this is the case.

If it is, while access to the underside, pack mortar between subfloor and bottom of pan to keep the pan from flexing.

 

This is what i'm thinking, i was poking down the drain about 3 inches and some blue putty like stuff was falling out. That's why i sealed off the drain and put some water in and it still leaked, but i think i will try the putty route, is this plumbers putty flexable enough to work into the seam and then will it hardened up? How can i tell if my drain is removeable? Thanks for all your help

 

If you gain access from the underside of your shower pan, you will see either a plastic or brass assembly with a rubber washer, cardboard washer, then plastic or brass nut.


If the assembly is plastic, remove it entirely from the shower pan, and replace it with all brass, I promise this is a good idea, because when you try to retighten the old plastic nut, it will break from tapping on it to tighten.



This task hits a 7 on the scale of 10 for difficulty level, so if you can post pictures, I might be able to help you along the way as far as what you are dealing with.



Submit a picture so we can see what you have and what can be done.

 

I'm on a concrete slab.

 

Whelp, I can't tell you what to do on that note. That would lead to installer error from the begining, and I see no correct repair other than tearing it apart.



A little extreme, but I never use caulk or other sealing products on pans other than what they were intended.


The pan either flexes due to lack of mortar bed underneath, or the drain assembly was not installed tight enough, then loosened.