Big shower problem - any ideas?

atw_uss

I have an en-suite tiled shower that is leaking behind the tiles and into the floor under the shower tray - it has taken a week to dry it out. It is an Aqualisa cartridge (mixes hot and cold water, drawing on the hot and cold water supply) + separate shower head. I thought it was cured by tightening an obviously dripping pipe connection from the cold water inlet on the cartridge, but it now appears to be dripping from elsewhere, possibly the shower head connection which is hidden behind tiles. Unfortunately, it is inaccessible and I was wondering if it would be better just to get a completely new unit installed (including the cubicle???), especially as the current one is over 15 years old, or whether it could be repaired.

I don't want to have to spend a huge amount of money, as I have just given up my job! Nevertheless, something needs doing fairly urgently, as I'm having to use towels to soak up the drips, so I am realistic about the need to spend some money soon.

Any advice / help / ideas?

Thank you!

OddjobKIA

it might just be the grouting slowly shrinking over time and a simple pot of grout might cure it....( at £1-£2 a tube much cheaper)

The_Teaahloic

Hi judith_sw I had this trouble with my Aqualisa but did not know it was leaking inside the wall for months. It caused a lot of trouble. To cut a long story short get yourself a plummer in. The inside of them can be replaced,the cartridge is about £80 .To buy a new shower it is about £300 - £400. I bought a new one as mine was about 25 years old. Do it as soon as you can because water can do so much damage to your property. Maybe you could just replace the tiles at the back of the cubicle.

atw_uss

Thanks for the replies. Unfortunately it's definitely not the grouting ... or the seals. The water is only dripping when the shower is running, but it is impossible to see exactly where it's coming from due to the tiles/boarding behind the tiles. It's not coming directly from the nearest water pipes connecting to the cartridge, but Ican see another joint, but not whether it's leaking. The water is probably running along and then down :mad:

I've contacted 3 plumbers and hope for some realistic quotes. Given the age, I think it's probably better to get a new shower altogether ... any ideas on a rough price fitted? I see in B&Q that you can get sheets of lookalike tiling, that must be loads cheaper than getting the tiling redone.

Also, I need to have a check regarding structural damage ... water started to leak into the lounge ceiling too, causing very small bulge where a beam has obviously swollen. I think everything's pretty much dried out now and HOPE that this won't call for structural repairs too, as the wood shouldn't have been wet long enough to rot. Any ideas? I am well insured!!!

Thanks,

Judith

metalmickey_2

you need to get it sorted sharpish, every time you use the shower you will exacerbate the problem. a new shower will probly need retiling around it so unless youve got some spares your gonna have to take the hit and get the job done properly

moneysavingplumber

The cartridge comes with replacement gasket and hot supply 'o' ring. The gasket may well be the source of your leak (if the water is dripping from the bottom of the valve itself behind the shroud), but both should be replaced when a cartridge is replaced (if the hot 'o' ring isn't replaced then the shower may still let-by, some plumbers have been known to pocket or bin this part as it's a bit awkward to relplace but it will need to be done). It may also be one of the mixed outlet connections from the shower if it is fully or semi recessed (eg the wall outlet elbow for semi or the head connection for fully) edit; sorry just re-read op and realise you'd sussed that already .

atw_uss

Well, Oddjob, having said it wasn't the grouting, I have to eat humble pie! There were, in fact, 2 leaks ... the first was an inlet pipe on the shower (now cured), but there was a secondary, more insidious leak from the grouting that had obviously been going on for some time. Both are now cured, albeit temporarily in the latter case. But thanks for the heads up!

As the shower is about 18 years old, we've decided to replace the tiles and the shower and start again. (Fortunately everthing has dried out without any apparent enduring damage). It's a mixer shower and I am undecided between a Mira Element (£160) and Discovery (£200), both BIV. They are thermostatic, the only advantage of the Discovery appearing to be ease of temperature control.

Does any one have any opinions about this choice? I would be very grateful for any comments. Our system is gravity fed with good pressure.

Thanks again, especially to Oddjob! A virtual beer is yours! :beer:

Judith