Leak from bath! water dipping to kitchen, how to remove bath side wood? Read more: https://www.diyn

sujsuj

Its noticed in the morning that water is dipping from kitchen ceiling, after checks realised leak is from old bath (not metal bath) just above the kitchen. Physical inspection on bath doesn't show any cracks, now need to remove side wood to see any leak . I blocked use of that bath and no more water leak, that suggests either leak is from waste pipe area or water might be leaking from sealant around bath white using it.

I removed 4 screws from side wood but still unable to remove that side wood panel. I know recent installations have plastic side panel which easily bend and remove. But this is 15+ years old big bath with proper wooden side panel. I suppose I need to remove silicone at both sides of bath..? see photos..

shiraz99

Well, as you say, it looks like it's also been sealed in with silicone so you'll need to cut this too to get the panel off.

victor2

It will probably be the sealant that is holding the panel in place. If it is just silicone, then a sharp Stanley type knife should be able to cut enough of it away to allow you to remove it. Cut down one end and put a (larger) screw in the hole in the panel to give you something to pull the panel out with. It could also be wedged vertically between the bath and floor, but doesn't look as if it goes under the lip on the bath.

sujsuj

Managed to remove side panel , unfortunately tiles on the right also came off.
leak is from the overflow pipe that joins back to the main outlet pipe. overflow plastic pipe more or less disintegrated and water from main exit valve leaks out though that .
See photos..

Now for solution what sort of pipe needed to fix these 20 years old installation. Then i haven'y got access to other end of overflow waste pipe. So how will I fix if I managed to get new pipe without removing the bath altogether?Other option is to completely block off overflow pipe..?

Bendy_House

The overflow grill on the side of your bath should have a screw visible in the middle of it? If so, that's how it's secured in place.

I know access looks difficult, but if you get a new assembly (if the main bath waste looks tatty too, replace it all) and attach the new hose to the new overflow part, then attach this to a stick or similar using a bit of tape (secure enough to hold, but pull-awayable afterwards), then one person lies down, sticks their hand under the bath to the side, and then lifts the waste+hose into place opposite the overflow hole. Another person then positions the screw through the chrome part from the bath side. Once the thread catches, you should be fine. Make sure the rubber washer is in place - if it keeps falling off the back overflow part during this process, then try siliconing it in place first, and then lift the back assembly into place. Before final tightening, make sure the overflow hose is pointing pretty much downwards so it reaches the main waste!

Ditto with the main bath waste - unscrew the white P-trap, undo the bath waste (central screw as before), clean up the surfaces, and fit the new one. Probably worth adding a thin smear of sealant to be sure to be sure.

Leave the panel off for at least a week with a sheet of newspaper on the floor under the bath to check for leaks.

Meanwhile clean up, and paint the panel. Is it water-damaged at all?

victor2

Pretty comprehensive reply @Bendy_House. Would guess you've done a few!

Norman_Castle

How fragile is the rest of the overflow pipe? Cutting it shorter then adding a new piece of pipe might work.

GDB2222

Norman_Castle said:

How fragile is the rest of the overflow pipe? Cutting it shorter then adding a new piece of pipe might work.

Can you do that with a concertina pipe?

Grenage

Bendy_House said:

try siliconing it in place first

Nooooooooo. No silicone on washers, please.

Bendy_House

Grenage said:

Bendy_House said:

try siliconing it in place first

Nooooooooo. No silicone on washers, please.

Ha-ha! I get what you say. I was suggesting it as a means of keeping the rubber washer in position on the overflow waste whilst they are both manoeuvred - blind - into place behind the bath. Not sure how else this could be done?

I wonder if a string could be passed through the overflow hole, and the waste tied to it. This could then be pulled up into place. Again, tho', the rubber washer would be the main problem.

Personally, I'd Stixall the washer into place :-)

Bendy_House

victor2 said:

Pretty comprehensive reply @Bendy_House. Would guess you've done a few!

I'm not looking forward to my first :-(  I have a bath like that, only more built-in. I hope to move house before it needs any work...