2nd floor shower leaking through 1st floor air vent

[douggoss]

We rent a townhouse built in 2006. About 18 months ago the shower door broke in the MBR on the 2nd floor. Despite repeated attempts to the landlord to have it repaired, we have been ignored. Last month, after a year and a half of not being used, we contacted a glass company and had the glass in the door replaced. Now we have a different issue, when the shower is used, water leaks from an air vent in the ceiling on the first floor. Again we contacted the landlord and continue to be ignored. So, yesterday I decided too try re-caulking around the top of the fiberglass enclosure and on the outside where it meets the floor. That did not work as it still leaks. I will also mention that at the same time we had the door repaired, the entire HVAC system was replaced in the attic and outside. Would like advice on where to look next. Could the HVAC repair have anything to do with it? Could it be a dried-out, cracked p-trap due to no use for 18 months? Other? Thanks very much for any advice!

 

[Reach4]

Dried out trap won't do that.

Try putting water down the drain directly -- perhaps via a garden hose. If no leakage, try putting a bunch of towels on the floor outside of the shower enclosure, and see if those stay dry when you take a shower that triggers the leakage.

Another test is to block the drain, and fill the pan with water. Does that leak out?

 

[Sponsor]

 

[douggoss]

Turns out is was the drain. When the shower was installed there was not proper bracing placed below the bottom of the shower unit. That being so, with a slight movement of the floor, it caused the drain pipe to become somewhat loose, as it needed tightened by a half turn, as it was off center with the hole in the shower floor. Thanks for the advice!