Leaking Bathtub
If your tub is more than 10-15 years old, you may want to inspect the waste pipe. In older homes this pipe is metal and threaded on one end, so dissimilar metal corrosion is fairly common. If the waste pipe fails, the entire content of the bathtub will be lost.
Because of water quality issues, we are seeing more of this type failure.
Waste Pipe
This waste pipe is severely corroded. This problem was discovered during a routine inspection underneath the bathtub.
Waste Shoe
The waste shoe is bronze. Although there is much surface corrosion, the part can be cleaned and reused.
Waste Shoe & Pipe
The waste pipe was replaced, but the waste shoe was reused. This component should withstand another 15-20 years of service.
Bathtub Stopper
This customer wanted a new bathtub stopper installed; the original would not hold water. While changing the drain flange and overflow cover, plumbers noted Code deficiencies and several, very poor installation practices. Eventually, this tub would have suffered a catastrophic leak at the drain shoe and emptied its content.
Drain Shoe
The original plumber did not cut the overflow pipe to the correct length. In addition, the drain shoe flange was not level. His solution? install multiple gaskets and shims--three in all.
overflow pipe
The overflow pipe and fittings should have failed inspection. The International Pluming Code (IPC), Section 705.10.2 requires solvent cemented joints be primed using a purple primer. The pictures clearly show no primer was used.
drain flange
Because of of misalignment with the tub basin, the tub leaked. Instead of redoing the work, the original plumber pressed a large amount of plumbers putting into the flange to stop the leak.
new stopper
A new drain flange and stopper are installed. The tub is then filled to the overflow and leak tested in accordance with Section 312.9 of the IPC.
Bathtub leak
This homeowner complained of a leaking bathtub. Unfortunately, there was no means to access plumbing to the tub. To inspect the plumbing, a section of drywall inside an adjacent closet was removed. After cutting the opening, the cause of the trouble was found--water on the bathroom floor (see picture 1, row 2) was running underneath the tub and making its way to the ceiling below. The tub and its associated plumbing were not leaking. To repair the closet, a wooden inspection cover was made and placed over the access hole. When problems occur in the future, plumbers will have an easier time accessing the plumbing.
