Shower leak on 2n floor, replaced caulk. Drain looks bad.

[aw-firsthome]

Hi , bought a townhome, now shower (identified it's from shower and not from toilet or wash basin) is causing a leak underneath. Replaced the caulk on corners, but drain looks bad and caulk/mortar/grout deteriorating ( see attached pics, apologies it's super dirty). Any recommendations how to fix? Or it requires a plumber to fix it by opening underneath ceiling ? Or need to rework by removing tiles around to repair the caulk/grout/mortar?

I see that PVC pipe doesn't go all way down.

Appreciate your kind help or inputs.

 

[Tuttles Revenge]

This looks like a clamping shower drain. IE a mudset drain. The strainer body that you see is threaded into the upper clamping collar of the main drain body. The actual seal of the shower is supposed to be made by a membrane that is sandwiched between the body and the clamping collar. The tile and grout is never intended to be waterproof.

The first thing I would do is clean the drain out so you can see the pipe. Block off the drain below where you see the 2 parts not touching, thats the actual drain body connected to the trap. With that blocked off, fill the shower with water. If you get leaks, its from the tile. If no leaks the plumbing is leaking.

 

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[Jeff H Young]

Well How did you determine that the leak is from up top (a lot of what tuttles says is entirely possible or likely ) but a leak in the ptrap or drain piping underneath isnt that rare either it happens plugging that drain with a dollar plug filling pan is a good way to find out as he mentioned and if it stays dry till plug is pulled problem then the problem will be visable when you open the dry wall

 

[Chucky_ott]

As stated by Tuttles, the tile/grout/caulking is not waterproof. If it is indeed a mudset drain, you would have a shower pan liner to provide the water proofing.

Not sure if this is a plumbing job or tile job but the best tile forum is johnbridge

Attached is an image I found by googling "shower pan pre slope". It shows how the drain clamps down on the membrane. I'd ignore the use of water proof drywall. I'd personally use cement board there or some waterproofing membrane.

 

[Jeff H Young]

If someone wants to learn about tile and showers that a great site. Id plug off drain and test . before concerning myse;lf with how to build a shower. if the pan holds water with no leaks then we arent building a new shower it could even be a leak at the shower valve or the arm

 

[aw-firsthome]

Thank for all the pointers. A lot good insights that I will research more. Appreciate all the responses.

The reason I said it's from shower is because we can hear drip sound only when we use shower and leak stopped, ceiling dried after 7 days of not using the shower.

Scheduled a plumber to have a look.

 

[Jeff H Young]

Thank for all the pointers. A lot good insights that I will research more. Appreciate all the responses.

The reason I said it's from shower is because we can hear drip sound only when we use shower and leak stopped, ceiling dried after 7 days of not using the shower.

Scheduled a plumber to have a look.

great well it still dosent mean the water is coming from the drain . When the valve is opened water can be leaking from the valve to the pipe coming out the wall at shower head . and it would only leak when shower is running .
but youve got a plumber any way.