Failing Shower Drain Seal

[Barry Brooks]

The attached picture is not the best, but it shows that the drain does not fit the pan, as it usually should. Therefore, caulk is used to fill the gap. The shower is less than 1 year old in a brand new home (Not 1 year old), and it has settled and started to erode away. I called it out, and the way pans are made, there should not be any leaking water issue underneath.

But shouldn't the drain fit the pan drain opening on a brand new install, and not have to have caulk or grout to fill the gap? Looks like the builder skimped on this a bit, correct?

[Jerry Peck]

Barry,

With no photo, I can only presume you are referring to a cast pan (acrylic, cultured marble, etc.) and where the drain fits over the pipe.

Some use an 'O' ring for that seal, which I find leak quite easily.

[Barry Brooks]

Finally Got a picture sized right. What do you think?

[Ron Bibler]

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[Ted Menelly]

That's just the drain cover. The drain more than likely is the type Jerry is talking about with the oring seal. In a new home the oring should seal it up alright. If you are saying that you know moisture is under the shower pan then that of course is a problem. There should never be moisture under a shower pan. That drain cover does not appear to be the screw down or screw on type and they probably caulked it in place.

[Matt Fellman]

What do you think?

Unless it's causing a problem I couldn't imagine mentioning it. That is SUPER picky.....

[Michael Thomas]

Well... I rarely disagree with Matt, but...

Looks to me (hard to tell from the pic) like someone may have attempted use a floor drain receiver with a shower pan - if so, it's likely already leaking, or soon will be.

But in any case IMO. it's an "unorthodox" installation", and I'd report it as such, and let the plumber decide if this is an adequate kluge, or not - whatever has been done here, it's not "right", and if that is, or starts, leaking it's potentially a significant expense for a homeowner and high-liability liability potential defect for an inspector to overlook or fail to report.

[Jerry Peck]

Well ... I rarely disagree with anyone ... ;) , but ...

That looks like the type which 'snaps in place', either into the shower pan's molded in drain fitting or directly into the inside of the pipe (I've seen both types).

Those two recesses on the shower drain cover (top and bottom in the photo) are where you would pry it out with a screw driver or similar tool. There are likely 2 or 4 tension clips which snap inside whatever it snaps inside of, holding the cover on by that friction.

On the pipe-through-the-O-ring type, the gap around it typically is never filled, and you can see the O-ring ... and all the gunk which collects around the drain above the O-ring. At least that sealant 'makes it look better', but that sealant will have no designed intent regarding water seal. It may affect the water seal when the O-ring starts to leak, if it is a high quality sealant and applied properly (and it is never either of them).

[Barry Brooks]

Thanks for all the input. It definately looks like an un-natural install, and any time you have that, there are no guarantees on what you can't see underneath. This shower is on the 3rd floor of a 3 story condo, coming up on its 1 year warranty time frame. I told the owner he needs to report it as unusual to the builder and have a Licensed plumber come out to check it before the warranty period expires. If the plumber certifies its OK, then I told him he should get something written stating that, so if it should fail down the road when he notices water leaking through to the 2nd story ceiling, he is covered somewhat. He could then go to the registrar of contractors for action on this, if the builder would not act.

[Billy Stephens]

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Well ... I rarely disagree with anyone ... ;) , but ...

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