Acrylic Bath Leak

[mani]

Hi all,

I have a acrylic bath, i have checked all pipework no leaks. When we have a bath we get water coming through ceiling below in the kitchen.

I have been told this is common on acrylic baths, is there any tips you can give me. Or would it be better to replace with a steel bath, would that solve the problem.
Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge with us.
mani

 

[WHPES]

It's only common in acrylic baths where they haven't been fitted properly or the seal has broken down. Is it a showerbath? If so water is probably running down the back of the bath if the seal has failed.

 

[mani]

Thanks for your reply WHPES, it's not a shower bath. The water is running down to the right of the bath and making it's way down to the kitchen below.
I have bought the expensive sealants to cure this but without any joy, the water still finds it's way down. i have filled the bath with water then put the silicone on leaving it for 24 hours, then take water out and apply more silicone on top but still water coming through ceiling.

 

[nysk2008]

Hi there,

If if is for showering and bathing you may have a hair line crack in the bath body? You mention you have checked the pipework does that mean you have also checked the trap and associated waste pipework?

Worth having having a look. P.S. Hairline cracks are very hard to see so may be better off looking at the underside if you can get there.

 

[mani]

Hi,
Yes i have takem this bath out and checked underside too. I have had bath panels off and have had the bath full, i observe for leaks nothing happens no leaks.
It's when we have a bath it's starts leaking from the side of the wall. I just can't get it to stop, before this we had a steel bath we never had problems with that.

 

[nysk2008]

are there any water marks on the wall so you can try and determine what height the leak could be starting at - this may give you an indication as to where the problem may be?

Not a solution but defo a start?

 

[mani]

Yes it's all the wall below the bath height, i suspect it's coming from the sides. as all the copper and waste pipes are dry.

 

[nysk2008]

in all afirness then you could mess around trying to patch this up or get yourself a nice new bath - thats what I would do

 

[foley]

Could be when you are in the bath the water level rises and water starts dripping from the bath handles? They will leak if not fitted correctly,

 

[WHPES]

If there's no shower above it then it will either be leaking from the bath handles or a hairline crack in the bath itself.

 

[mani]

Thanks for your help all, i will change it to a steel one.

 

[nealbyuk]

I have had this problem before sounds like silicone is being put on with no bath water in the bath. Alot of people don't know this but silicone is supposed to be put on with at least half a bath full of water in it. Acrylic baths especially recoil out of their frame slightly with no bath water in it because they are light. Steel baths are heavy anyway so they sit nice and snug in their frame even without water in them.
When siliconing you have to allow for this movement otherwise seal breaks very quickly and is only obvious when someone is in the bath and splashing water around. Water runs between seal and bath and all down the wall. So try siliconing with water in the bath. And use a top quality silicone like 785 Dow Corning or one recommended by decent plumbers merchant there are alot of cheap silicones around that have no flexibility in them.

 

[mrlennie]

Could you not take the bath panels off then fill the bath get someone to stand in it and see what happens?

 

[turnpin]

agree with many of the posts if not installed correctly i.e additional frame work battens etc these baths are prone to movement normally standard acryllic baths come in two thicknesses 5mm and 8mm and both will move if not supported properly and of course water will always find the easiet way out last thought have you checked bath overflow? regards turnpin

 

[mani]

I have filled the bath, then put silicone on it, left the silicone for 48 hours with water still in, then drained all water out, put more silicone on in an empty bath, left this on 48 hours, but still getting water down the side.

 

[mrlennie]

Try the overflow as turnpin said is there a rubber seal on it? or is it just plastic against acrylic if so it needs a seal. (its about the size of a bottom of a cup)

 

[nealbyuk]

Which wall is it pouring down and also which silicone have you been using. Brand name please

 

[mani]

The water is pouring down just below the tiles and the edge of the bath from the right side where it is touching the wall. The silicone i have used is willbond.
I have alsp spoken to a plumber today, he has told me to put a wooden strip accross the edge of the bath and support the edge that way, and then it will stop the water from going down.
Your thoughts on this please.

 

[nealbyuk]

Wooden strip sounds good,. Silicone is terrible it states on website it is for slight movement only. Buy silicone which is very flexible and maybe try this link Topps Tiles Tips - How to Fix Homelux Ultra Seal on Baths & Showers step 1

very expensive though and doesn't look that great. Should solve problem.