Hello All,
I stumbled upon this forum based on research of my current problem. I am hoping someone here can help with some ideas.
I rebuilt my bathroom, about 2 years ago. First bathroom rebuild, increased it by 50% in size, redid the plumbing (with permits and passed inspection after 3rd attempt...), and had someone else do the finishing work (tile) and had a plumber help me with the shower pan (custom).
Since this was rebuilt, I have had no problems. But about 1 week ago, it I saw a small leak in my kitchen ceiling. Above it, is the new bathroom. I cut away a large spot in the ceiling and found the leak to be right at the drain. The part that made me happy, was that the plumbing itself is not leaking. When I built the shower, we put tar-paper down to seperate the cement from the floor. I can see that the water is dropping off of the tar paper, giving me good indication that the issue is around the outside of the drain.
Upon further inspection, and testing, I opened up the drain (which is a Sioux Chief 3 piece no glue model (PVC with metal grate)) and removed unthreaded the top piece. WHat I discoevered can be viewed in the below pictures (before.jpg). pieces of the mortar was loose, and so I cleared it away. I didnt find any obvious paths for water to get around the drain, but I used a drummel tool, after I found the weaping holes and 'channels' blocked, and completely cleared them out. (You can see the 'after.jpg' below to see what it looks like now).
I screwed the drain back on, left the grate off, and tested thoroughly. I was able to get the dripping again. Further playing with it, I decided to stop the drain with a trash bag ,and hold 2 inches of water to confirm this wasnt a grout issue. (and i had remove dthe grout just around where the drain would be). At this moment, no water is dripping.
At this point, I am completely confused. Though I feel I have made progress in resolving this problem, it is puzzling that I was able to reproduce a leak one moment, but then retighten the threaded 3rd piece, stuff the drain, and find no leak. I am concerned that this is a temporary moment of 'resolution', and that the problem may popup again.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. I am wondering if I should get plumbers putty, and put it around the threads of the drain, to ensure a secure tight fit, then regrout to ensure no water can reach the sides. I intend to use the drummel tool to slightly remove some of the tile that is close to the drain, so I can get a nice clean 1/8inch grout line around the drain, ensuring adequate coverage. Just wondering if there are any other thoughts, or something else I could be missing.
(Side note: In retrospect, should have routed those supply lines further from the shower drain... and wow, i used a lot of solvent! hah!)
Quick follow-up. I emptied the drain after 1hr of 2inch standing water, and it drained fine without leaking. Ran water for another 10 minutes, no leak. So I am wondering that when I didnt have the threaded 3rd piece on, and did testing, that triggered the leak somehow. Not sure if I should clear out the drains 'drainage channels' further back, or what-have you. Also wondering if I should put caulking around the bolts (three are slightly exposed--showing slight rust in picture).
Off-topic, I had dried that beam off, light bleach/water solution to kill any possible mold, and intend to use a high quality white primer paint on that area so if it acts up again, it wont absorb the water as easily and expose itself far faster by soaking the ceiling's drywall.
Thanks a lot any and all!
I stumbled upon this forum based on research of my current problem. I am hoping someone here can help with some ideas.
I rebuilt my bathroom, about 2 years ago. First bathroom rebuild, increased it by 50% in size, redid the plumbing (with permits and passed inspection after 3rd attempt...), and had someone else do the finishing work (tile) and had a plumber help me with the shower pan (custom).
Since this was rebuilt, I have had no problems. But about 1 week ago, it I saw a small leak in my kitchen ceiling. Above it, is the new bathroom. I cut away a large spot in the ceiling and found the leak to be right at the drain. The part that made me happy, was that the plumbing itself is not leaking. When I built the shower, we put tar-paper down to seperate the cement from the floor. I can see that the water is dropping off of the tar paper, giving me good indication that the issue is around the outside of the drain.
Upon further inspection, and testing, I opened up the drain (which is a Sioux Chief 3 piece no glue model (PVC with metal grate)) and removed unthreaded the top piece. WHat I discoevered can be viewed in the below pictures (before.jpg). pieces of the mortar was loose, and so I cleared it away. I didnt find any obvious paths for water to get around the drain, but I used a drummel tool, after I found the weaping holes and 'channels' blocked, and completely cleared them out. (You can see the 'after.jpg' below to see what it looks like now).
I screwed the drain back on, left the grate off, and tested thoroughly. I was able to get the dripping again. Further playing with it, I decided to stop the drain with a trash bag ,and hold 2 inches of water to confirm this wasnt a grout issue. (and i had remove dthe grout just around where the drain would be). At this moment, no water is dripping.
At this point, I am completely confused. Though I feel I have made progress in resolving this problem, it is puzzling that I was able to reproduce a leak one moment, but then retighten the threaded 3rd piece, stuff the drain, and find no leak. I am concerned that this is a temporary moment of 'resolution', and that the problem may popup again.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. I am wondering if I should get plumbers putty, and put it around the threads of the drain, to ensure a secure tight fit, then regrout to ensure no water can reach the sides. I intend to use the drummel tool to slightly remove some of the tile that is close to the drain, so I can get a nice clean 1/8inch grout line around the drain, ensuring adequate coverage. Just wondering if there are any other thoughts, or something else I could be missing.
(Side note: In retrospect, should have routed those supply lines further from the shower drain... and wow, i used a lot of solvent! hah!)
Quick follow-up. I emptied the drain after 1hr of 2inch standing water, and it drained fine without leaking. Ran water for another 10 minutes, no leak. So I am wondering that when I didnt have the threaded 3rd piece on, and did testing, that triggered the leak somehow. Not sure if I should clear out the drains 'drainage channels' further back, or what-have you. Also wondering if I should put caulking around the bolts (three are slightly exposed--showing slight rust in picture).
Off-topic, I had dried that beam off, light bleach/water solution to kill any possible mold, and intend to use a high quality white primer paint on that area so if it acts up again, it wont absorb the water as easily and expose itself far faster by soaking the ceiling's drywall.
Thanks a lot any and all!
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