Author Topic: Need advice on a leak  (Read 586 times)

SnakesintheGrass

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Need advice on a leak
« on: October 26, 2020, 09:30:48 AM »
We have an investment property North of Toronto that has developed a small water leak in the drain plumbing below the second-floor bathtub.   It is causing the ceiling in the kitchen to be damp and stained.   

I went up and removed a 30 cm x 65 cm section of the drywall (well, not so dry...) on the ceiling but I found that the drywall was actually attached to 1 x 4" straps which were attached to the original ceiling.   Where the paint had come off the original ceiling it looked a little like thin-set cement or grout - it was grey and had that look anyways.

So I know of three brute force ways of fixing this - all involving a bunch of work: 
a. keep going and cut the original ceiling to get at drain plumbing
b. remove the rolled lino and floor in the bathroom (beside the tub) and hope I can get in at it that way
c. remove the tub and surrounding tile work (scary version)

I'm hoping that there is a product that I can put down the tub drain that will find it's way to the leak site and seal it up.

I'll see if I can add a picture shortly.

Advice welcome.

Retired (Snakes in the Grass)

zolotiyeruki

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Re: Need advice on a leak
« Reply #1 on: October 26, 2020, 10:11:13 AM »
I would bite the bullet and go with option A).  The other two options are a lot more work.

I would be surprised to find some sort of stop-leak for residential plumbing, because whatever doesn't stick to your leak is gonna stick somewhere downstream, and Murphy's law says it'll be in the worst possible spot.

How long has this tub been in place?  If it's got PVC pipes for DVW, I'd think maybe a seal at the tub itself is more likely to have failed  than something in the pipes.

lthenderson

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Re: Need advice on a leak
« Reply #2 on: October 26, 2020, 12:23:24 PM »
I would also go with Option A but I would be very surprised it if was the drain plumbing that was leaking. If it is, like mentioned above, it might be the interface of the plumbing to the sink or tub basin where the plumbers putty sealing the drain to the porcelain has gone bad. But in my experience, it is much more likely to be a leaky boot on a vent stack above the bathroom and the water is just running down the vent pipe to the trap underneath the floor and dripping off with gravity. Those rubber boots that seal the vent stack to your roof fail quite often after ten years or so and need replacing. Every house I have ever bought has had rubber boots on any roof penetration that were either failed or looking like they were about ready to fail. They get brittle and stiff with age and then don't seat well against the pipe allowing a small amount of water to penetrate and follow the pipe to the lowest point before dripping off.

SnakesintheGrass

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Re: Need advice on a leak
« Reply #3 on: October 27, 2020, 06:03:38 AM »
Thanks all - I'll go with your advice.  I'm heading up to the house today with hopes that I can fix this (today).

Arni

Exflyboy

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Re: Need advice on a leak
« Reply #4 on: October 27, 2020, 06:09:34 AM »
Yeah, check the vent stack boot on the roof first as its the easiest to get to, also easy to replace assuming you have a shingled roof.

After that then opening up the ceiling from below is the way to go.


Wintergreen78

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Re: Need advice on a leak
« Reply #5 on: October 27, 2020, 09:47:38 AM »
If you just want to inspect the connection under the tub, why not use a hole saw to cut a 1” hole in the old second layer of the ceiling? Then you can peek through or take some pictures with your phone before deciding whether you need to rip up the rest of the ceiling.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!