Leaking shower waste

stevemcol

Thanks all for advice. I'll tackle it this week and report back, whichever access I decide on. In either case, the access can remain for the future. And Keith, yes I didn't really plan ahead when this was all going in. You live and learn.

glubalub

Are you sure it's the trap that's leaking. If it's been OK for a long time it may be the silicone seal between the tiles and the tray that has given up the ghost. You may be able to check by carefully pouring water into the waste to see if it leaks. If it doesn't it may be worth cleaning off all the old silicone and repacing it with new before you start hacking at the tiles. Although, some designs of shower screen need the silicone seal to be in place before the screen is installed. If this is the case you would need to remove the screen replace the silicone and then put the screen back as you can't get a good seal between old silicone and new silicone.

SuzieSue

I had a leak under the shower and it turned out that the pipe behind the wall just behind the hot/cold water leaver had become disconnected.

stevemcol

Thanks for the ideas. Too much water coming through too quickly after turning shower on for it to be leaking silicone seal. When the shower is on and nobody standing in the tray it doesn't really splash the sides at all but still drips downstairs.

Can't be the pipe feeding the valve because it only leaks when it's turned on.

SuzieSue

stevemcol wrote: »

Can't be the pipe feeding the valve because it only leaks when it's turned on.

Mine only leaked when it was turned on.

stevemcol

interesting....so was it the expansion that caused it to leak as the water got hot. Otherwise, it doesn't really make sense because the pipes would always be pressurised. Unless it's a power shower with an external pump?

SuzieSue

stevemcol wrote: »

interesting....so was it the expansion that caused it to leak as the water got hot. Otherwise, it doesn't really make sense because the pipes would always be pressurised. Unless it's a power shower with an external pump?

No, it was a thermostatic manual shower. I wasn't there when the guy came to fix it, but my OH said that a pipe behind the wall had become disconnected.

stevemcol

Thanks Sue

Was it a recessed/flush thermostat valve or surface mounted?
Mine is surface mounted so all the pipework connections are visible.

SuzieSue

stevemcol wrote: »

Thanks Sue

Was it a recessed/flush thermostat valve or surface mounted?
Mine is surface mounted so all the pipework connections are visible.

It was recessed.

stevemcol

Glubalub

I owe you an apology. The silicone seal looked fine but.....
Today I bought a 20quid flexible USB camera, ran the shower and popped the camera up through a small drilled hole from downstairs. I saw a drip and once I'd orientated myself and realised it wasn't coming from the waste, it became obvious it was a point on the edge of the tray. Got my missus to hold the camera and watch the screen; I poured water in the shower where I guessed the spot was and a shout from downstairs confirmed that was it. A small channel had formed between a grout line and the silicone. No removing of tiles, wood work etc, I'm so chuffed.
I'd have struggled to diagnose without the camera. Best 20quid I've spent in a while.

Thanks all for your ideas. I promise to listen next time. I'm off to B&Q for a tube of silicone. Then refit the tongue and groove ceiling and should be good as new.