Leaking shower/bath waste?
Discussion
Sigh.
So, for some time now the shower in our main bathroom used to cause a leak which would drip into the kitchen. Until we could be arsed to sort it, I'd use just the en-suite shower. Until that started causing a leak which leaked into the dining room (which adjoins the kitchen). So, earlier this year we had the main bathroom redone, new shower, new floor tiles and wall tiles, everything. It is still leaking into the kitchen every now and then.
A couple of weeks ago I decided to join Mrs A in the en-suite bath. Due to how I'm built, and my goatee not absorbing the extra water as I displaced it, a lot of water went through the overfill hole. 20 minutes later, when I went downstairs, it appeared that most of that water had gone into the dining room.
So, it appears that something is leaking. Surely it can't be both showers and the bath? Is it likely that all the waste pipes are connected under the floor, and there's a problem there? Also, the showers only seem to leak when it's a long shower, so maybe the waste pipe has a blockage and is backing up?
I could do with getting this sorted before the ceiling comes down. Is it something that might be covered my home insurance (LV)?
Many thanks.
So, for some time now the shower in our main bathroom used to cause a leak which would drip into the kitchen. Until we could be arsed to sort it, I'd use just the en-suite shower. Until that started causing a leak which leaked into the dining room (which adjoins the kitchen). So, earlier this year we had the main bathroom redone, new shower, new floor tiles and wall tiles, everything. It is still leaking into the kitchen every now and then.
A couple of weeks ago I decided to join Mrs A in the en-suite bath. Due to how I'm built, and my goatee not absorbing the extra water as I displaced it, a lot of water went through the overfill hole. 20 minutes later, when I went downstairs, it appeared that most of that water had gone into the dining room.
So, it appears that something is leaking. Surely it can't be both showers and the bath? Is it likely that all the waste pipes are connected under the floor, and there's a problem there? Also, the showers only seem to leak when it's a long shower, so maybe the waste pipe has a blockage and is backing up?
I could do with getting this sorted before the ceiling comes down. Is it something that might be covered my home insurance (LV)?
Many thanks.
Firstly, almost certainly covered in your home insurance, but check the documents as many put a 'cap' on the £ limits of specific claim items.
From what you described, if I understood correctly, it could well be the combined wastepipe/drainage that's leaking. If the pipe was (partially) blocked, the water would back up into the shower trays, or drain very slowly, so you'd be standing ankle deep in water rather than a trickle as the waterflow drained away.
Lastly, I hope your wife gave you a good "backscrub"
From what you described, if I understood correctly, it could well be the combined wastepipe/drainage that's leaking. If the pipe was (partially) blocked, the water would back up into the shower trays, or drain very slowly, so you'd be standing ankle deep in water rather than a trickle as the waterflow drained away.
Lastly, I hope your wife gave you a good "backscrub"
Bath leak sounds like the overflow pipe hasn't been fitted properly or possibly the overflow fitting that goes through the bath isn't well sealed.
The shower sounds like it may not be sealed to the wall if it only leaks after a long shower, or possibly leaking where the waste fitting goes through the tray.
A lot of "Plumbers" are silicone happy when assembling bathroom furnitures, they put silicone on the rubber washers and all this does is lubricate them, which makes them slip out of place when the waste fitting is tightened up.
Is your shower sat on the floor or on a riser kit?
The shower sounds like it may not be sealed to the wall if it only leaks after a long shower, or possibly leaking where the waste fitting goes through the tray.
A lot of "Plumbers" are silicone happy when assembling bathroom furnitures, they put silicone on the rubber washers and all this does is lubricate them, which makes them slip out of place when the waste fitting is tightened up.
Is your shower sat on the floor or on a riser kit?
5potTurbo said:
Firstly, almost certainly covered in your home insurance,
..they'll want to be a sure it was a sudden thing though, not something that happened gradually.A colleague of mine seemed to get half his house refurbed when one of his kids left the bath running. The bathroom floor had to be replaced so that meant ripping out the suite and fitting a new one, and much of the downstairs laminate flooring had to be replaced. He was quite miffed not to be able to wangle a new kitchen out of it.
Deva Link said:
5potTurbo said:
Firstly, almost certainly covered in your home insurance,
..they'll want to be a sure it was a sudden thing though, not something that happened gradually.A colleague of mine seemed to get half his house refurbed when one of his kids left the bath running. The bathroom floor had to be replaced so that meant ripping out the suite and fitting a new one, and much of the downstairs laminate flooring had to be replaced. He was quite miffed not to be able to wangle a new kitchen out of it.
We have a gradual leak from our shower cubicle into block walls (lifted plaster in hallway and bedroom) that my insurance broker looked at last night, and they'll pay for all removal, repair, refit and redecorate without quibble or excess payable - but I don't live in the UK.
Thanks for all the replies.
The en-suite shower, well the grout isn't in amazing condition. The guy that built the en-suite (it's part of an extension completed before we bought the house) was a bit of a cowboy, so there's no extractor within the shower, so we struggle with mould in there.
The shower in the main bathroom is all brand new and the sealant all looks perfect.
Anyone recommend a plumber in the North West?
Rickyy said:
Is your shower sat on the floor or on a riser kit?
Erm. I don't actually know, but there isn't a massive 'step up' to get in so I would suggest it's on the floor?Gingerbread Man said:
Could be a badly sealed overflow as Ricky has said. Can you remove the bath panel easily?....Don't tell me you've tiled it in what ever you do!
In regards to the shower, are the profiles siliconed to the tiles both sides, inside and out? Is the grout and silicone in good nick?
I'm sure I can remove the bath panel and take a look. I just think, for the bath and both showers to be causing a leak it *must* be something related to them all, ie a shared waste pipe? I'll take the panel off tonight though and see what I can see.In regards to the shower, are the profiles siliconed to the tiles both sides, inside and out? Is the grout and silicone in good nick?
The en-suite shower, well the grout isn't in amazing condition. The guy that built the en-suite (it's part of an extension completed before we bought the house) was a bit of a cowboy, so there's no extractor within the shower, so we struggle with mould in there.
The shower in the main bathroom is all brand new and the sealant all looks perfect.
Anyone recommend a plumber in the North West?
Possibly too far then sorry! will tell them though.
They only set up a few months ago and are flat out, seems there are lots of people getting fed up with dodgy bathrooms!
They sorted our main shower which was leaking, turned out to be a loose turn fitting underneath the floor somewhere.
They only set up a few months ago and are flat out, seems there are lots of people getting fed up with dodgy bathrooms!
They sorted our main shower which was leaking, turned out to be a loose turn fitting underneath the floor somewhere.
Blakeatron said:
Possibly too far then sorry! will tell them though.
They only set up a few months ago and are flat out, seems there are lots of people getting fed up with dodgy bathrooms!
They sorted our main shower which was leaking, turned out to be a loose turn fitting underneath the floor somewhere.
No worries. To be honest, I think it's a job for a local handyman rather than a bathroom specialist. They sound expensive They only set up a few months ago and are flat out, seems there are lots of people getting fed up with dodgy bathrooms!
They sorted our main shower which was leaking, turned out to be a loose turn fitting underneath the floor somewhere.
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