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Where can bath leak be coming from?

When I turn on bath & shower it leaks downstairs to apt below. I took apart & checked handle parts but dont see any leaks. Also, they are relatively new. shower & tub spout also are relatively new. leaks downstairs even if just bath is on. Wife tried pouring water from a bucket into tub to see if drain but didnt leak - meaning only leaks when water's on. Where else can i check without opening bathtub or drain or wall. Could it be related to the seat (valves)?

14 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    It's possible the tub spout isnt on correctly and spraying water back into the wall, also check behind the handle to make sure the stems arnt leaking. For further info i can be reached at myothernewname@yahoo.com

    Edit 1::: Check to make sure water isnt going directly on the overflow. If the gasket is bad, it will leak there also. The tub shoe, which is the main drian

  • 1 decade ago

    First, stopper the drain in the bathtub. Then poor about 5 gallons of water in the bath tub. Let it sit in the tub for about an hour and see if you see leaking. That will help you determine if the bathtub drain is leaking. After an hour unstopper it and look for leaks again.

    If it doesn't leak on either of those, then I'd say it's probably leaking inside the wall on the pipes where somebody recently installed piping or new fixtures. Since it is only leaking when you turn the water on and if it's not the tub drain, then it can only be somewhere from the bath valves up to the showerhead.

  • 1 decade ago

    It's either your drain, the connection from tub to pipe, one of the pipes or the shower head. If you've ruled out the drain, and the water pipes, then it must be the shower head. I've had leak when an old solder joint cracked and it only leaked when the water was on because it was on the shower head side of the valve.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Your know its not the drain, and it only leaks when you turn on the bath water, so its in the Valve- / Remove the cover you might get lucky and be able to repair it without to much wall removal if any- I have seen pipe to valve connections that were never soldered.

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  • 1 decade ago

    I am a plumber by trade. Al tho the other answers are good I would look at the tub shoe gasket. This is the rubber gasket that seals the drain to the assembly below the drain that hooks up to the drain pipe. Also does not hurt to check your overflow gasket while you are at it.

  • 1 decade ago

    Its in the wall. If you have a stethoscope try listening to the wall where the pipes are so you can start cutting. You could also try the cup against wall method to hear. If that doesn't work you will have to put small holes in the wall till you find the spot. Its unlikely to be the seat (valve) You would have seen it when you fixed the faucet.

  • 1 decade ago

    it is in either the pipe attached to the spout, or to the showerhead when ...leak seems to appear when either of these are called on...try pugging the showerhead with a cap, and turn the spout on, if you dont you dont see a leak, it's in the showerhead pipe, which means opening and exposing the control. maybe you can get access through a nearby closet?....sorry, good luck

  • 1 decade ago

    sounds like there is a leak in the pipes in the wall or under the tub ...if you dont want to put a hole in your wall etc... just call a plumber

  • 1 decade ago

    I would guess a leaking water pipe. Try testing just hot or just cold. If one leaks and not the other, you have found your culprit.

  • Shayna
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    There is a water pipe leak in the ceiling.

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