Plumbers can't locate shower leak

[JessePinkWoman]

Hi all, we've got a shower that's been leaking onto the ceiling below for quite a while, and no plumbers have been able to find the problem (3 different plumbers out so far).
We've put in a new shower tray, re-sealed the tray, put in a new outlet seal.
Looking to move soon so really don't want to rip the house apart if we can avoid it, but really want the issue sorted once and for all.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks

 

[HERTS P&D]

Does it leak all the time or only when in use?

Andy

 

[JessePinkWoman]

Does it leak all the time or only when in use?

Andy

Just when in use thanks

 

[ree]

OP,
You dont say what kind of shower you have?
Why not post pics of the shower - the tile abutment with the shower tray - and inside & outside of the shower enclosure abutment (the jamb & the base rail) where it meets the wall & sits on the tray.
When doing service plumbing I noticed some DIY'ers had not fitted or sealed the waste correctly.

There are a number of other points that could be checked but why not first try the above?

 

[HERTS P&D]

Ok, faulty tiling, faulty silicone, leaking waste trap or waste pipewrok, leaking shower door or even a leaking fitting where there is a rain head or outlet?

Andy

 

[JessePinkWoman]

Thanks both, I'll get some photos of the shower and add them. It's wet wall rather than tiles, with new tray and recently re-sealed. Could well be pipe work (what worries me most).

 

[HERTS P&D]

Leave the shower head over the trap and turn the water on to see if anything leaks below.

Andy

 

[CountryFan]

What type of shower tray? Who put the new in?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Hi all, we've got a shower that's been leaking onto the ceiling below for quite a while, and no plumbers have been able to find the problem (3 different plumbers out so far).

Are you sure they were plumbers?

 

[Madrab]

If it was me, I'd be going in from down below now if the tray etc has been replaced, though it does sound like it could be a waste pipe issue.

If the ceiling is plasterboard then it can be cut out in sections under the shower to track from there and then along the waste and you will be able to eventually find the source. Water can track along ceilings/plasterboard so where it goes damp isn't always where the leak is located.

The plasterboard can then be easily re-fitted/replaced, some skrim on the joints, fill, sand it flat and then paint.

 

[Elsa TLC]

My guess is the leak behind the uprights of the shower cubicle.

This happens alot.
Tray gets tiled & grouted
Then screen goes on.
Then silicone. Sometimes grouted
That's the problem

Should be:
Tiles
Grout
Silicone
Dry/clean
Screen

 

[Justin Passing]

Buy a cheapo inspection tool endoscope - ebay. You can easily fill a smallish hole eg 19mm in a ceiling, one between each joist if necessary.
If it were me I'd buy a fluorescent drain dye and a small uv torch. Then it would glow at you.
Yellow is the standard.
Red is good, but it stains absoutely everything and it doesn't wash off. You need 2 colours so you can detect, then prove the fix works.

There are lots of ways to put plumbing together badly, because it's carp by design.
There used to be an example here., I'll have a look.

Here's the one I was thinking of but it's for a basin https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/faqs.37170/#post-772251