How to stop the fucking shower from leaking

[Riskyrice]

The shower is a mixer tap one over a bath tap, and for the past month or so (since we moved in) has been leaking through the kitchen ceiling.

First LL replaced all the sealant everywhere in case it was that. When that didn't work, the plumber came out and said it was the waste pipe, which he fixed.

The shower continued to leak, so plumber came again and said he thought it was the sealant. Resealed.

Shower is still leaking. The plumber is coming again, but I thought I'd consult the MN wisdom for any ideas, as if he comes and says it's the sealant I might call another plumber, or just loom over his shoulder offering suggestions.

The strange thing is, it doesn't happen when I have my quick maximum 10 minute puritan showers, but always happens when DP has one if his lengthy 20 minute showers. I've checked to see what going on and he's not sloshing water everywhere so I don't see as he's doing anything different to me other than taking longer.

Maybe it is the seal?

In our last house the over bath shower leaked, even though we replaced the sealant time after time. There just seemed to be some tiny amount of movement that somehow allowed water to slip through.
In the end I crawled under the bath and squirted no more gaps all around the underside edge -it never leaked again.

When the bath was resealed did they fill it with water? Does your DP weigh more than you? If he does it could mean he’s weighing the bath down more and making small gaps under the sealant. If not I’ve no idea!

If tiled the grouting could be cracked, we had that before.

Is there a small crack in the bath base itself?

I had this in a shower once. I had all the sealant changed, the trap and waste pipework replaced and finally had the tile grout raked out and replaced. Still the leak continued.

It was only when I was cleaning in very bright sunlight one day that the crack caught my eye, I thought it was a fine hair at first. This was the problem, it was invisible until some weight was put on it - so when you were stood showering this made the base flex and the crack 'open' and leak. When you stepped out and the weight was gone the crack sort of returned to flat and couldn't be seen.

This was also why longer showers made the leak worse than a quick in and out. Was also worse when heavier people used it.

Can you take the panel off and get DH to shower? Look under with a torch whilst he’s having a lengthy shower?

I would put money on them not weighing the bath down when doing the sealant - if dh is heavier than you he will be creating a gap between the sealant when he’s standing in the bath. They should have filled the bath half full before sealing and then leaving it overnight to set.

We had that, we had not clicked the shower head into a correct position so the water was dribbling down the shower pipe and going onto the floor then in a gap,

Make sure all the water is going into the correct place and not down the side of the bath

They did half fill the bath with water when resealing it.

DP is definately heavier, going to have a search for cracks now!

Hmmm no cracks when looking under a very bright torch. Will have another look in daylight, and will try getting dp on the shower whilst looking underneath.

The real tragedy in all this is I can't dye my roots until its sorted, in case I also dye the kitchen ceiling plaster ginger

@Orangecrisp

Can you take the panel off and get DH to shower? Look under with a torch whilst he’s having a lengthy shower?

This

I had a persistently leaking shower over bath in a flat - leaked into downstairs' neighbour's kitchen, so you can imagine how popular I was. The pipes behind the tiles were leaking. It would pool on the floor, build up and then leak. Had to strip it back and replace the shower and retile. I had gone through the sealant/minor problem options before tackling te more fundamental one.

Might explain why it leaks during your husband's longer showers, and not during your short ones?