3 Tips for Identifying a Bathtub Leak

11/23/2020 (Permalink)

3 Tips for Identifying a Bathtub Leak

Does your home in Norman, Ok, have a bathtub leak with no identifiable source? Water damage is a serious issue that cannot go unaddressed.

1. Check the Shower Pan
The shower pan is the floor of your shower, and it is where some of the more common leaks can occur. If you have water dripping into your basement, you should check for a shower pan leak. To do this, cover your drain with several layers of duct tape, and be sure that it is watertight. Then, fill the bathtub with about two inches of water. Be sure to fill it with a bucket from the sink, not from the tap, as the faucet may also be the cause of the leak. Here, you are testing only the shower pan. Wait from five to eight hours and check around and under your tub for leaks.

2. Check the Faucet
Faucet leaks may seem obvious to identify, but dripping water can occur in other places than only the spout. A bathtub leak can also occur around the base of the faucet or even under the fixture. Begin by drying all the water around the faucet base, then, turn on the faucet all the way. After a while, if it is a surface leak, water may begin to build around the base of the faucet. If this is not the issue, you can next check for a leak under the sink. After drying everything once again, check the water supply lines to the faucet and the drain pipes below.

3. Other Plumbing and Professionals
After checking for a leak both in the shower pan and from the faucet and neither appear to be the issue, the source may well be another pipe that is not related to the bathtub at all. There is lots of plumbing in the bathroom, and only a professional can quickly identify and repair any leaks.
A bathtub leak can come from many sources, some easier to identify than others. However, all can be handled by an informed homeowner and a licensed professional.