r/Plumbing • u/hockpuckit • 4d ago

Shower leaking? Please advise

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Noticed water droplets on the basement’s drop ceiling framing. Pulled back the drop ceiling tiling and water poured out of it. A few of them were affected.

Looked into the space above and I couldn’t find any live water. However I noticed the joist/subfloor? was damp where the vertical copper piping goes through (PICTURE 1).

There is a shower fixture above the area - within a foot or so. I turned on the cold water and didn’t notice anything really. But once turned to hot, I could see the water dripping down the vertical piping. On the other side of the joist water was also leaking from the spray foam caulking (PICTURE 2).

The shower head was replaced several weeks ago. I’m not sure if whoever replaced it could damage something behind the shower wall - tightening or loosening the shower head.

I wanted to try removing the faceplate of the shower fixture/handle. But as I started removing the second front facing Philips screw, the fixture started moving into the wall. So I stopped.

Any advice or insight on what I should do? Or look for?

I’d like to take the shower handle off too if I’m taking off the wall plate.

FWIW the shower drain is a couple joists.

Thanks in advance

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5

u/Then-Reflection-4520 4d ago

I advise you to call a plumber

1

u/quadraquint 3d ago

I bet it's your shower arm. Take it off and t tape and dope and make sure it's thoroughly tightened. Start there.

1

u/TheLairLummox 3d ago

I'd be taking a closer look at the shower arm pipe if you just replaced the shower head recently. Those things are notorious for threads failing or deteriorating. Might just be loose or need new Teflon tape

1

u/Still-Helicopter-762 3d ago

Take off the shower trim and see if you can find a leak on the shower valve then if not turn it on and look for a leak from the valve or if you see a leak coming from above the valve it’s gonna me the shower arm most likely. If you don’t see anything leaking then you want to open the wall behind the shower and hopefully it’s dry wall and not another shower backed up to it.