Shower leak problem

[KineticoUser]

I'm having a challenging intermittent leak from a second floor bathroom at my rental. Nothing leaks when hot or cold water runs either from the tub spout or the shower head, but sometimes when people take a shower a few tablespoons of water leak to the powder room below. This leak has also occurred when the young kids were taking a bath. There is no leak when the toilet is flushed, and the floor to tub and wall have been caulked. I haven't been able to diagnose the problem, so I'm hoping the experts here have run across a similar situation and can offer solutions.

 

[Tuttles Revenge]

Kids taking baths? Perhaps the overflow seal between the back of the tub and the overflow tube? Pretty common for those gaskets to be misaligned, dry and crumbly.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[KineticoUser]

Thank you. I'll replace that gasket.

 

[KineticoUser]

I believe the problem was the bolt holding the overflow in place. It was 2" long and couldn't be tightened down very tight without slipping. I switched to a 2-1/2" bolt and am able to snug it up. I did replace the gasket, though the old one wasn't cracked or broken.

 

[Tuttles Revenge]

Hopefully the simple fix solves the issue. I often smear some silicone on the inside of those gaskets where the gasket meets the overflow and the tub. Not the faces of the gasket, but on the edges when its installed. It prevents it from becoming permanently attached and unreplaceable but just enough sealant so any misalignment doesn't become an issue.

 

[Jeff H Young]

I do the silicone as well on overflow gasket on the demands of our Superintendant doing tract homes around 1999. its a very common leak point

 

[KineticoUser]

I used silicone on the gasket.