Thermal Detection for Shower Leak

donny donny on 23/03/2024 - 11:37
Last edited 23/03/2024 - 23:15

Hi All,

hope everyone is looking forward for the next week long weekend!

We have a problem and wondering if OzBargain community could shed some lights on this matter.

The Background
After a full decade of saving, we finally managed to buy our older style villa/townhouse around 2 years ago. The bathroom had been updated (unsure by who) and unfortunately we now encounter a problem that we just noticed.

The Issue
The bathroom has a standing shower that leaks water to the area outside shower screen. The water poping out from the grout at random areas outside the shower while we are having shower.
We suspect the water is leaking from the frame. As in the shower screen installer drill the frame to the tile underneath, causing water leaking through the tile.

Our Own Assessment
Rebuilding the bathroom would approx 5-20k, money that we dont currently have.
My thought is to remove the current shower screens and put a standing alone unit on top. this standing alone unit will have their own base, so no there will be no further drilling to the tile.
https://www.reece.com.au/product/showers-c458/shower-systems…

Question no 1
Any other solutions to this issue?

Question no 2
i think it would be wise to spend around $300 to buy a thermal camera so i can be 100% sure the culprit (might be the shower fittings, and not the shower screen?) in this case, anyone familiar with thermal camera and could share their opinion on the suitable product for my issue? we are living in Melbourne so the cooler temperature will assist in contrasting the camera output as we will be using warm/hot water in doing the test run.

Update 1
so i did a few tests as suggested by one of the member, surm. below are the test outcome:
1. taped the drain and let the water still on the tiles for about 20 mins = no leak
2. turn the water on and collecting the water onto a bucket = no leak
3. turn the water on and collecting the water onto a bucket and letting it overflow directly onto the drain = no leak
4. turn the water on and direct the water onto the 2 sides of the wall = no leak
5. turn the water on and direct the water onto one side of the shower screen = no leak
6. turn the water on and direct the water onto the final side of the shower screen with the opening = LEAK

there is frame on this leaking side.

i just applied silicone onto the gap between the tiles and the frame let see how things are going - will keep everyone posted tomorrow

photo for reference of the leaking area: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oW_PxOHadBeRswQXdx3WhWaG4QJ…

Thanks!

Home & Garden

Comments

  • scrimshaw on 23/03/2024 - 11:46

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/826239

    Many libraries have thermal imaging cameras available to loan, for free.

    • donny donny on 23/03/2024 - 11:49

      thank you, the earliest is around 6-12 months unfortuantely :(

      i am worried the situation would be getting way worse by then :)

      • toristo on 23/03/2024 - 12:08
        +2

        If you're in Sydney, I hire a handheld thermal camera out. Pickup in the inner west - PM me if you're interested.

        • donny donny on 23/03/2024 - 22:11

          i am in Melbourne, might need another 10 years of savings before i could afford Sydney :D

          • pinchies on 24/03/2024 - 03:57

            @donny donny: I am in melbourne and do the same… but you already have my site linked in this thread… ;-)

      • 87percent on 23/03/2024 - 14:47
        +2

        Can also rent from Kennards. I was going to use them before I managed to get one from my library

        • cloudy on 30/03/2024 - 08:26

          Libraries have them to borrow?

    • skillet on 27/03/2024 - 19:59

      In Melbourne you can try TechRentals in Blackburn North.

  • BOGOF on 23/03/2024 - 12:00

    Can you do a quick test?

    Using your knuckle, tap the floor tiles in the shower area, then around the tiles that have water coming through, then other tiles in the bathroom. Do any sound 'drummy' or 'hollow'? Do any sound solid, like tapping a brick? Which ones?

    [edit] I assume the shower floor is tiles? Or is it a one-piece base?

    • donny donny on 23/03/2024 - 22:15

      yes, the shower floor is tiles. i am thinking converting it to a one piece base - this might be helping but need further assesment..

      i knocked the tiles all sounds quite solid with the exception of the area where the water coming out from the grout (outside the shower area) - what does this mean?

  • conant on 23/03/2024 - 12:09
    +4

    Do you consider to try these first?

    https://www.bunnings.com.au/cpc-1l-shower-plug-sealant_p1585…

    This will fix the problem if your assumption is correct.

    • donny donny on 23/03/2024 - 22:18

      wow i didn't know this product even exists! will give it a go thank you!

  • CyberMurning on 23/03/2024 - 12:24

    Hey interesting I have the same issue water out at weird place outside the shower glass it's so funny I thought how come water can go through a glass?

    • donny donny on 23/03/2024 - 22:20

      very annoying isnt it? the space between the subfloor and the tiles will get mouldly!

      i am suspecting water pass through the tiles through the shower frame. but again, there are various things that can cause this.

      i hope this thread will be helpful for you too!

  • PissLUR on 23/03/2024 - 13:08

    do you have iplex pipe installed?

    • donny donny on 23/03/2024 - 22:21

      unfortunately i dont have a clue. the bathroom was upgraded by the previous or even the previous previous owner

  • SydStrand on 23/03/2024 - 13:19
    +6

    'What a schmozzle. Non-compliant.'

  • surm on 23/03/2024 - 13:31
    +5

    There are a few important things you need to verify. The most important thing is to verify that water does not leak into the (wall) tiles at the shower head/wall connector or at the mixer tap. If this is happening, that water can then appear to come out from the floor tiles. You can verify this by opening the shower and collecting the water to a large bucket. This way, if water still "pops out" from floor tiles, it can't have leaked from the shower base, and is leaking from the plumbing work before the water comes out the shower head.

    Once you verify that the leak is indeed from the shower base, check whether it is from the drain. The water that flows into the drain can leak to the underside of the tiles (if the drain has not been done correctly).

    Once you verify that the drain is fine, you have some remedial choices.
    1) See this video:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naLRSRphFkU
    This company charges around $1,000. They will remove the shower screen, do the re-sealing, and put back the shower screen. They can fix most drain issues as well, since they re-seal around the drain,

    2) Apply a clear polyurethane coating over the tiles. The idea is the same as installing a standalone shower kit, which you are planing to do. You can get the same outcome by painting the shower base and the wall tiles (to a height of 15-30cm) with a clear polyurethane waterproof coating. See the URLs below. The material will cost under $200. You can do this yourself or get a tradesperson to do it. See the video and links below

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_yzQ4h0SWI

    https://www.remedialmembranes.com.au/leaky-shower-repair/

    https://waterstop.com.au/product/clear-waterproofing-membran…

    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/115751521326

    Please share with us what you decide to do and how you go with it

    • surm on 23/03/2024 - 13:55

      Here is a thermal camera that can suit your needs. This is a high-res thermal camera. Your phone acts as the screen of the camera. My personal guess is that, this type of IR thermal cameras represent value for money since you are not spending money on a screen, and all the money you spend is on a high-quality thermal sensor

      https://reductionrevolution.com.au/products/flir-one-pro-iph…

    • donny donny on 23/03/2024 - 23:12

      thank you this is very helpful :)

      so i did a few tests….

      1. taped the drain and let the water still on the tiles for about 20 mins = no leak
      2. turn the water on and collecting the water onto a bucket = no leak
      3. turn the water on and collecting the water onto a bucket and letting it overflow directly onto the drain = no leak
      4. turn the water on and direct the water onto the 2 sides of the wall = no leak
      5. turn the water on and direct the water onto one side of the shower screen = no leak
      6. turn the water on and direct the water onto the final side of the shower screen with the opening = LEAK

      there is frame on this leaking side.

      i just applied silicone onto the gap between the tiles and the frame let see how things are going

      photo for reference of the leaking area: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oW_PxOHadBeRswQXdx3WhWaG4QJ…

      • surm on 27/03/2024 - 13:01

        How did it go?

  • Stewardo on 23/03/2024 - 17:18

    Is it a plastic tub?
    Is it leaking through the outside of the bathtub waste washer into the void under the tub then out the side through the tile?

    • donny donny on 23/03/2024 - 22:33

      no, it is a standing shower with tile base

      it is leaking outside the shower area everytime i shower

  • godofpizza on 23/03/2024 - 17:35

    would home insurance be able to help you?

    • miwahni on 23/03/2024 - 22:16

      Home insurance will usually only pay to repair any damage caused by the water leak, they won't pay to find and repair the actual source of the leak. And that will need to be diagnosed and fixed before they'll pay to repair the damage too. Check PDS.

      • donny donny on 23/03/2024 - 22:36

        yes indeed, i had a chat with the broker which is my mate. just covering the damage caused by the water leak unfortunately

  • Euphemistic on 23/03/2024 - 19:48

    Tube of silicone might slow the problem for long enough to save for a redo.

    • donny donny on 23/03/2024 - 22:35

      indeed, i just gotta find where the water penetrating through :(

  • mitt on 23/03/2024 - 23:27

    There is supposed to be an upright water stop that protrudes through the tiles & above the floor level that is bonded directly to the waterproofing.

    This is almost NEVER installed in cowboy renos & is regularly missing in new builds. Any panless shower that is missing this stop will eventually leak, as all that is sealing the gap between the frame & the tiles is the squirt of silicon, which eventually separates.

    The short term solution is to re-silicon it over and over.

    The long term solution is to rip it out & do it properly.

    The best solution (but people dont like it because of aesthetics) is to just use a shower pan. Panless showers look great but are regularly screwed up in implementation.

    • donny donny on 23/03/2024 - 23:40

      yeah i am not a fan for shower with pan/base. but after considering costs to fix and the durability, i dont mind shower pan/base as long as it doesnt leak

      functionality > aesthethics for me hahaha

  • revheadgl on 24/03/2024 - 10:29

    It may be worth looking at the Topdon TC001/TC002 for android/Apple. Plugs into your phone. They are currently $329/$347. I was able tp pick one up for $273 with one of eBays 17% off deals.

    I did a bit of research and all the reviews I watched were positive. I have a had a bit of a play with it and it works very well.

    I bought it as I will be moving later in the year and would rather find any issues outside the building inspection report myself, and then sort them. Things may be different these days but the last time (19 years ago) I had a building report done, it was pretty cursory in my opinion. And this was on a house I was selling. So I knew the place pretty well. lol. . Was compulsory in Canberra at the time for the seller to supply the report.

    You can use it for a heap of other things like checking insulation gaps, looking for heat or cold air leaks, potential electrical hotspots etc. You can even make out wall studs a ceiling rafters.

    Bought mine from here, https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/354607783180

  • loadofrubbish on 24/03/2024 - 20:34

    you can

    (1) Install Acrylic Bathroom Panel on top of the tile. will require removing the shower cubical. Easy DIY job.

    https://www.bunnings.com.au/vistelle-2070-x-900-x-4mm-salt-h…

    (2) regrout the tiles and apply "sure seal" paint on the grout and tile the sealer. I have done this and it worked perfectly for me.

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