Leak through ceiling (wetroom above)

DailyClicker

----------

Simonon77

Did the plumbers take out the shower tray to investigate? This is probably the best way to find out where it is leaking, it could be around the plughole or a fitting, or leaking down the side of it. Checking all the pipework and refitting and sealing the tray shoud fix it

benson1980

Hard to tell from those photos. I'd look to rule out the waste- is water trickling down one of the shower side walls, or near to any waste fittings?

If it is down one of the shower walls, it could be for a number of reasons. Before I'd go and rip anything out, I'd closely visually inspect everything- the tiniest of grout cracks can lead to a reasonably significant leak. Likewise with silicone. Next, I'd concentrate water flow on specific areas in turn, and inspect underneath at the same time (ideally two person job). Just getting plumbers to rock up and give a cursory once over rarely solves the issue, in my experience.

DailyClicker

Thanks @Simonon77 & @benson1980

Nobody has managed to take out the shower tray yet, as would involve either taking up the tiles in the bathroom, or going via the living room ceiling. 

I think we have a Impey Aqua-Dec Easyfit tray with horizontal waste, from taking a closer look it looks like the seal has broken down.

Whilst taking a shower the drainage of water is quite slow (so the water does go above the line where the white seal has broken down - photo below).

Do you think this cause water to leak through the ceiling, or should it still be caught elsewhere?

Thanks

TELLIT01

I suspect you will have to rip up much of the floor to find the leak.  The point it is dropping onto the ceiling isn't necessarily anywhere near the actual leak.

DailyClicker

TELLIT01 said:

I suspect you will have to rip up much of the floor to find the leak.  The point it is dropping onto the ceiling isn't necessarily anywhere near the actual leak.

I think so, my concern is whether it will be covered by home insurance. The policy document states they cover loss/damage from escape of water from any fixed domestic water installation. Up to £10,000 to find the source of leak/make good the damage after the leak has been fixed. They do not cover for the actual repair (which I believe is standard). There is also an exclusion for "loss or damage caused by sealant or grout failing to work properly or by an inappropriate sealant or grout being used" which I'm not sure how they will view the failed seal on the drain?

TELLIT01

The problem you may have with the insurer is that you acknowledge that the problem has been known for a year now.  In their view they may feel that insufficient action has been taken to address the problem 'in a timely manner' and dismiss the claim on that basis.

Simonon77

That definitely could the be the cause. If it is draining slowly then it could back up to flow out of the seal somewhere. In any case the seal needs fixing as it shouldn't have a gap ( could probably be fixed with some silicone sealant ). It could also be the drain is clogged making it flow slowly. Is probably worth putting down some of that drain clearer gel / liquid stuff as it may be clogged with hair.

I'd try both of these first and see if it fixes the problem before going any deeper. It may be that water is coming out of the seal, but then running along the outside of the pipe or somewhere else, so the leak may not be directly under the waste outlet