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Author:
Powerplay (MA)
I have had a leak in my shower from the very begining when the house was built. I had a plumber come in who ripped out the tile, replaced the shower pan stating that he thought is was leaking. This was very costly and I thought it corrected the problem but the leak started again and it shows up a wet spot on the ceiling below the shower and doesn't show unless the shower is running very long or multiple showers are taken within a 3-4 hour timeframe. I am now wondering if the trap may have pieces of tile that may have dropped down when the tile work was initially done. I have tried using a snake and it goes through but does feel like it is hitting some pieces before it moves through. Could this be the problem? I am wondering if their is a tool that could be used to remove whatever is in the trap without having to cut through the ceiling? I really don't think water is leaking from the faucets and since the pan was replaced and tested I know that is not the problem. Any suggestions?
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Author:
steve (CA)
Why wasn't the pan tested before ripping it out? Open up the ceiling and see where the leak is originating. Maybe a cracked pipe/fitting, that is expanding with the prolong/multiple exposure to heat? Were the walls also demoed and retiled? Do you know how the walls were constructed(as far as the waterproofing)? Does the wall waterproof membrane overlap the pan?
Edited 1 times.
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Author:
packy
little pieces of tile in the trap would not cause a leak.
if you are unable to get any money from the installing plumber, then make a claim against your homeowners insurance company. you will pay the deductable (usually 500 dollars) and they will pay for everything else.
they will subrogate against the plumbers insurance company to recoup their expenses and you will get your deductable amount returned to you.
MA law, your insurance company MUST represent you in this matter at no cost to you...
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Author:
LemonPlumber (FL)
Retest every thing.cap off the shower arm.turn on the faucet and wait twenty minutes.insert a test ball in dwv and pour water in pan to near curb level and wait twenty minutes.reinstall shower arm remove test ball from drain turn on shower with water pointed away from doors and run twenty minutes.aim shower water at the closure and wait twenty minutes.Sometimes it can be something easy to repair like a gap at the shower door corner or under the threshold if a marble one was used.Some times the ceiling is going to have to be removed.And a wet vacuum may remove debris if you can get the hose close enough.
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Good Luck. Insulate your hot piping, although costly, it will pay you back every day.
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Author:
Powerplay (MA)
hi and thanks for replying. The plumber that replaced the pan did all the checks and he felt that the pan probably wasn't installed correctly. Unfortunately, the leak is not detected unless there is more than one shower taken so it was noticed again for a few months. I do feel confident that the new pan was installed correctly and the retileing was also done correctly. I was hoping that the problem was with bits of tile in the trap causing water to rise in the pan and overflow when multiple showers were taken. But I guess I will have to have the ceiling opened and the trap inspected.
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Author:
Powerplay (MA)
Thanks for replying back. Was hoping to hear that the problem could be with pieces of tile caught in the trap and some type of tool to remove it but I guess that is not the case . As for insurance we filed a claim as soon as the leak was noticed and we had an estimate of the cost to repair but the insurance company denied the claim stating it was builder negligence.
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Author:
hj
YOU apparently fell into the trap of replacing things without knowing if they were the actual problem or not. Stuff in the trap will NOT cause a leak, but a shop vacuum would probably remove anything that is in the drain. NOW, you have to do a careful test of the ENTIRE shower area to see where the leak is coming from.
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Author:
hj
If the base were done properly, water should be able to flood the floor up to the point where it runs OUT the door, without leaking downstairs. IF the plumber did the checks, he either found a leak in the pan or he did not. It is NOT a matter of "thinking" the pan was the problem. THere are ways to "accelerate" the usage to simulate multiple showers. In fact, that is about the only way to detect the cause of most leaks.
Edited 1 times.
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Author:
packy
builder negligence is one reason you pay for homeowner insurance.
they are playing games with you.
MA law requires them to represent you in any and all legal action concerning damages to your home.
how do they know the builder was negligent?
a couple of years ago i had a 6 week old kohler faucet leak from the valve body and cause many thousands of dollars in damage. i filed a claim with my insurance company. when the adjuster came out, she and i determined that the faucet had leaked, not anything i had done. the adjuster took pictures, contacted kohler, filed a claim against them and collected the amount in full. the check was sent directly to the homeowner who signed it over to the builder.
i, of course, changed the defective faucet at no cost to the homeowner as part of my guarantee.
my point is that MA law requires the insurance company to represent you.
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Author:
waukeshaplumbing (WI)
if all tests fail to find the leak then open the ceiling..it will be obvious then.
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Author:
hj
Your situation was that YOUR insurance company handled the claim, NOT the homeowner's. That is also what her company is saying. The CONTRACTOR'S insurance company either has to handle the claim OR PROVE that it was not the contractor's liability. At this time, we do not know enough about WHAT is leaking to decide either way. IF the present leak is also the original one, then the rebuilding of the shower was unnecessary, but it is also not the reason for the leak.
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Author:
iplumb (MA)
check the shower valve...if its a multi handle(2 or 3 handles) could bet its leaking inside wall..if its a single handle,could be divertor leaking,best of luck...oh ya,hire a real plumber while your at it...we dont just replace things because we THINK they are leaking
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Author:
hj
quote; we dont just replace things because we THINK they are leaking
ESPECIALLY shower stalls.
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