Leaking shower tray

[RPG340]

Good evening,
We’re currently away in Devon this weekend after finally escaping from lockdown. Everything in the motorhome seems to be fine but have spotted a leak. I think It’s coming from the Shower tray drain. Got the wife to fill the sinks and empty them one by one, then she turned the shower on and put water down each drainage hole one by one in the shower tray. Water dripped down the outside of the one pipe when the shower was tested. Is there an easy ish way of either taking out a drainage hole or removing the tray? Any help appreciated

 

[irnbru]

Hi make/model and photos would be ever so helpful. Hopefully it will be an easy fix.

 

[RPG340]

Ok will do. Currently on the beach 🏖 will snap away later

 

[RustyRuss]

You could bodge repair it with a tube of sikaflex..... It’s like silicone sealant but for grown ups!! It’s used in the boat building industry to seal between bulkheads. Available in screwfix in a variety of colours. This is of course assuming that the tray/plug hole joint is the source of the leak......

Cheers!

Russ

 

[Landy Andy]

another option may be to get the tray coated with Speed liner. They fix the plug hole, then coat the entire tray with a flexible layer.

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[RPG340]

Hopefully I can attach a photo. No idea what make/model it is

 

[RPG340]

 

[Fletton]

.No idea what make/model it is

irnbru ... means... Make and model of your Motorhome ...

 

[RPG340]

Weinsberg Meteor 790 MQ. Not a common one in the UK so not sure if it will help.
im told they’re part of the Knaus group.

 

[RPG340]

I may be able to get my hand in there and try and tighten the fixing, but it’s Sod’s law the furthest one away Going to try and stretch my arm and see if I can get any purchase on it.
Do these joints have rubber seals in them? Was thinking it might be better to try and remove it if I can reach and check/replace the seal? If I can undo from underneath I’m assuming I can lift the plug hole out.

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[RustyRuss]

RPG340,

(Is that some kind of Rocket Propelled Grenade??!! )

Looks to me, from photo 2, that the bracket holding the pipe to the underside of the floor has come loose, perhaps putting strain on the joint between the shower tray and the plughole. In my experience of these types of fittings it is likely that the continual flexing of the floor as you use the shower has made the bracket work loose, the water from the shower subsequently lying in the pipe and not draining away will be heavy and put even more strain on the plughole assembly.
Firstly make sure everything is absolutely bone dry, then I would check and fix the pipework bracket, perhaps supporting the bracket with something and using sikaflex (second time in 24 hours I've recommended this product, I'm definitely not in their employ though!) around the bracket and the underside of the floor until it's set, then undo by 3 to a max of 4 revolutions, but don't completely remove, the large knurled nut from the underside of the shower tray and have an assistant above the shower tray gently prize the plug hole from the tray and apply bathroom grade anti-mould silicone (not sikaflex, it discolours quickly when exposed to detergents etc, but it doesn't loose it's effectiveness) or a new rubber gasket to the joint between the plughole and the tray, then you can tighten up the knurled nut from below. If it's difficult to get at this nut use a set of pipe grips for a bit more leverage. Leave the whole assembly for at least an hour before you test it with some water. Don't stand on it for at least 12 hours.
I would also check the integrity of the floor beneath the shower tray. If it's made of timber or mdf then it may have softened because of water damage. Buy a tin of Ronseal "wet rot wood hardener" and use throwaway paint brushes to apply it liberally over the underside of the tray, it's the consistency of water and will run everywhere unless you're careful, so try not to get it on your hands or clothing, it will however set rock hard!!

Just a quick additional thought, the seal to ensure that the shower tray doesn't leak at the plughole needs to be between the underside of the plughole and the top surface of the shower tray, NOT between the underside of the shower tray and the top of the knurled nut holding the plughole assembly together, hope that also makes sense!!

Hope this helps!!

Cheers!

Russ

 

[RPG340]

Thanks Russ. RPG, yes it is though it’s also my initials
That’s got me thinking. When I got my van back from service & mot, stuff in the garage and some cupboards was everywhere. We have a fold up picnic table which was under the floor, when I got the van back, had slid all the way to the front. So, this may have taken a bash then? There are holes there by that bracket so I’ll test and see if the bracket is still attached. They may be old holes I don’t know. I can then investigate the plug hole once I know the pipe is secure. I’ll also remove any stored items from under there as I don’t want any further damage.
much appreciated

Rich

 

[RPG340]

Is there a chance that the shower waste is not a screw fit and is push fit and glued? Got very sore fingers from trying to turn it and I’m getting no where

 

[RPG340]

And the floor is too thick and the hole too far back to try and get any sort of pipe grip in there

 

[RPG340]

So it turns out to be a screw fit drain hole The trap it screws in to is glued to the pipe. The rest of the pipe work is just push fit in to place. Currently cleaning it all and will re fit and test

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[RPG340]

Leak fixed. Job done

 

[RustyRuss]

We'll call that a result then!!!!

Cheers!

Russ