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Last Updated: September 16, 2021
Drip... drip... drip. The ominous dripping from the upstairs bathroom. What should you do?! Don't panic - start fixing!
Steps
1
Check the waterproofing. The major reason for leaking bathrooms is poor waterproofing prior to tiling. This is especially the case for older homes where waterproofing products weren't as good as they are nowadays. However, it can still be a problem for modern homes if the application was sloppy.
2
Run one fixture at a time. Try to find which bathroom appliance might be the source of wet patches or drips (shower, bath, toilet).
- Turn on each appliance in turn, checking the drips or the wet space to see if it worsens with any particular appliance.
- Leaving water overnight in a shower pan or bathtub can help you to find a leak if one of these appliances is the cause. If there are no leaks, eliminate the bath or shower from the search. Be aware - a hole as small as a pinhole can cause a massive leak beneath!
- Check the pipe between the valve and the shower head.
- Turn on each appliance in turn, checking the drips or the wet space to see if it worsens with any particular appliance.
3
Check the pipes. Usually there is ceiling space between the upstairs bathroom and the lower ceiling.
- Cut a hole in the ceiling to enable you to undertake a visual inspection of the pipework to see if the pipes are leaking, or to see if there is direct leaking from under the tiles.
- Cut a hole in the ceiling to enable you to undertake a visual inspection of the pipework to see if the pipes are leaking, or to see if there is direct leaking from under the tiles.
4
Get a plumber. If you find leaking pipes, get the plumber as soon as possible. Unless you're fully trained in plumbing, leave this one to the professionals to fix. Having a plumber do an inspection will also help you to know whether or not you need to go to the expense and trouble of lifting off all the tiles and waterproofing and re-laying them!
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Community Q&A
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Question
All of my fixtures (tub, sink, toilet) cause a drain leak, but I have no idea where the pipes are routed. How do I determine where the leak is before I tear out parts of the plaster ceiling or hardwood flooring?
Community Answer
You could get a cable or inspection camera, but, you'll probably have to tear out something to fix it. If you are unable to do this yourself, call a plumber.
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Question
Why do I hear water running if my water main is shut off?
Community Answer
You may have a leak under a basem*nt slab. Or, a toilet fill valve could be in need of replacement.
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Question
When I shower downstairs, water also comes out of the upstairs shower. When the washing machine in the basem*nt is on, water comes out of that same upstairs shower. How is that possible?
Community Answer
it could be a bad mixing, balancing or anti-scald valve in that upstairs shower. You should call a plumber immediately.
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Tips
Odd as it may seem, also check your window. If left open during a lot of rain or not sealed properly, it might be its own source of leakage.
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A rocking toilet may indicate a need to tighten the toilet.
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If you've been doing any work in the bathroom recently, such as tiling or adding in a new appliance, test this area first.
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Things You'll Need
- Flashlight
- Saw or similar item for cutting a hole
- Plumber's contact details
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About this article
wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 71,692 times.
56 votes - 62%
Co-authors: 4
Updated: September 16, 2021
Views:71,692
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 71,692 times.
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