Leaking from bath tub when you shower
Category: Plumbing Repair
Most people think, it's the drain pipe under the bath tub that is leaking through the ceiling. But most of the time, it is the tile or the spaces around the tub & shower faucets. The way you rule out the pipes under the bath tub. Fill the bath tub up with water, just below the over flow in the bath tub. Leave it in the bath tub for a couple of hours, if it doesn't leak through the ceiling below, it is not the drain pipes under the tub. Than put more water in the tub and let it run and go into the over flow for a little bit, rare but it can be the over flow washer that is sealing the over flow to the bath tub. O.K. No leak lets get started.
What you need to do is purchase tub and tile caulking, this comes in many different colors to match the tile.
Next you need to scrape as much of the old caulk as you can from where the tub and tile meet. The tile sits on the tub, that is where you need to scrape out the old caulk. Also scrape any old caulk around the tub and shower faucets.
Now you are ready to fix the leak, that is going down to the next floor. You have to get a bucket, gloves, sponge and the tub and tile caulk you purchased. You need to make sure the tub hasn't been used that day. If there is any water that gets behind the caulk it won't work. "O.K. It's dry". Now you squeeze the caulk out, put the caulk where the tub and the tile meet. Fill the bucket with the hot water you can get from the faucet, that's why you need the gloves so you don't burn your hands. Put the sponge in the hot water ring it out a little and wipe the caulk, that's how you get it to look like a professional did it.
Next we do the same thing, around the tub & shower faucets. Put the tub & tile caulk around the tub & shower faucets and sponge the excess off with the sponge for the professional look.
Any other places you see around the tile that looks like a space, where water might get through, put caulk and wipe with the hot sponge. Now let it dry until the next day. You should be able to shower the next day with no leaks to the floor down below.