Leak from upstairs shower waste.

anotherquestion
anotherquestion Posts: 441 Forumite
Fifth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
Hi there folks,
I have an upstairs pod shower and just noticed that when its running getting water drops downstairs through the ceiling, I would imagine from the waste pips from shower. 
The leak soon stops when shower is not running, and no leaks if either wash basin is running or toilet is flushed
I take it no other way to get it fixed other than lift part of tiles floor upstairs, or else cut into ceiling where water is coming through downstairs to find source of leak?
Just though I would ask even though the above seems the obvious.
many thanks.

Comments

  • Aylesbury_Duck
    Aylesbury_Duck Posts: 15,404 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Yes, I would have thought that's your route to sorting it out.  Is it completely inaccessible from the bathroom itself, i.e. flush to the floor?  No side panel for access, for example?
  • anotherquestion
    anotherquestion Posts: 441 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 29 June 2020 at 1:51PM
    Thanks, I think the leak is actually in the waste pipe under the floor, there is an entrance at side of bathroom in loft (chalet bungalow with upstairs) but almost certain won't be of any use in fixing it.
    Probably would be an even bigger job to remove the pod shower enclosure if trying to fix it that way.
  • anotherquestion
    anotherquestion Posts: 441 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 29 June 2020 at 7:06PM
    Update.
    Well I have just tried this and so far it seems to have worked, though I didn't think it would. The main trap connection waste large circular fitting that you see when looking down at bottom of pod or a shower, after removing the cover and cup, I just hand tightened it up a little to the right as it seemed a bit loose and that so far seems to have stopped the leak.
    As we have a child who likes to jump in shower is it possible it might have become loose a bit and it wasn't a tight seal between bottom of pod/shower tray, so water might have got in underneath that large circular fitting?
  • JohnB47
    JohnB47 Posts: 2,660 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Update.
    Well I have just tried this and so far it seems to have worked, though I didn't think it would. The main trap connection waste large circular fitting that you see when looking down at bottom of pod or a shower, after removing the cover and cup, I just hand tightened it up a little to the right as it seemed a bit loose and that so far seems to have stopped the leak.
    As we have a child who likes to jump in shower is it possible it might have become loose a bit and it wasn't a tight seal between bottom of pod/shower tray, so water might have got in underneath that large circular fitting?
    I have no particular experience of shower tray fittings but I'd be surprised that tightening the fitting effectively could be done solely from above - bearing in mind the relative lack of grip you'd get from above.
    If its fixed then fair enough but I would expect to have to come back to this one in future. In view of the lack of access, perhaps think of cutting through the ceiling immediately below the shower fitting. You could have a good look at what needs to be tightened or fixed, then think of a way to install a removalable panel in the ceiling - to give easy access in future. Perhaps a plywood panel, painted as per the ceiling and secured with screws with those little white plastic covers over their heads.
  • GDB2222
    GDB2222 Posts: 25,948 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Depends on the make but a lot of them do have a flange on top of the shower tray that screws into a sort of cup underneath. It was probably not tightened sufficiently when fitted originally. Not the child's fault.
    No reliance should be placed on the above! Absolutely none, do you hear?
  • ouraggie
    ouraggie Posts: 323 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker I've been Money Tipped!
    We had this issue once. Turned out that the idiot builder had not removed the clear protective plastic film from the new shower tray before installing it  and sealing it to the tiles! This plastic wrap was thin and practically invisible but it was clearly stated in the instructions:
    1. Peel off the self adhesive plastic film from the shower tray.
    Second builder spotted the problem immediately.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 349.8K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.6K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453K Spending & Discounts
  • 242.7K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 619.5K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.3K Life & Family
  • 255.6K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.