On 21 Dec 2014 20:12:05 GMT, Puckdropper
puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com wrote:

Larry Blanchard wrote in
:

I've got a continuing challenge. A shower that leaks water out from
underneath and even into the basement - but only when running. So
far:

1. Doesn't leak when shut off so no problem in the piping below the
valve.

2. Valve showed evidence of a slight leak as corrosion on the brass
so it was replaced - still leaks.

3. Plumber took off the shower head and replaced it with a piece of
pipe - sealed on the end. Turned on the water, turned it off, and
went away for a day. Still had pressure in that pipe when he came
back, so no leak in or above the valve.

4. Shower head that had been removed showed a little thread damage so
we replaced it. Still leaks.

5. I put a seal over the drain and filled the shower basin with water
up to the 3-4" ledge. It took better than 24 hours to gradually leak
under the seal, which was just one of those flat rubber disks. So no
leak in the shower stall floor.

So what's left? I suppose there could be a leak where the drain screws
into the pipe, but considering the way that fitting works it's highly
unlikely. I'll check it to be sure.

The only other thing I can think of is to seal the floor and walls
with some of that rubberized finish like they make for tool handles.
I can peel it off after the test.

I've been ignoring it for a month or so hoping a solution will spring
into my mind but that doesn't seem to be happening :-).


If you let the shower run with no one in it, does it leak? I saw
something on one of those TV DIY shows where there was a small hole in
the tub floor that was sealed with no weight on it. When it got some
weight on it, the tub would flex and leak.

I had that problem with the drain, in a previous house. It took some
time to figure out what was leaking. I finally had to rip out the
ceiling below and put some paper around (to record the water) to find
it. Then it was confusing because I could tell there was water but
never saw it. One day I decided to get up in there when the wife was
showering. Yep, the drain was leaking. The problem was then fairly
easily solved.