How to tell if a bathtub leak is the drain, gasket, or tub itself
Bathtub leaks can stem from multiple sources like a failing gasket, a drain assembly issue, or a crack in the tub material itself, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact failure. In remote locations where hiring a professional is prohibitively expensive, diagnosing the problem incorrectly can lead to unnecessary and costly repairs.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Pop the drain off the tub to check the fiberglass and gasket condition.
- 2Replacing the plumber's putty seal on the sink flange
- 3Replacing the sink strainer or drain kit
- 4Cutting through stuck locking rings with a tool
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Kitchen sink is leaking from the bottom of the sink basin.”source ↗
“Was wondering if the entire sink basin needs replaced, or just the connecting parts leading up to the pipes underneath?”source ↗
“Does this appear to be fiberglass or drain issue maybe both ? At a loss at my ranch in the middle of nowhere would be a fortune to get someone out here ….”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 8Why is a newly installed sink drain leaking above the trap?
- 4Why is my steam shower outlet constantly leaking water?
- 6Second-floor bathtub is cracking and flexing with no backup bathroom
- 59How to fix a leaking water pipe in a tight space
- 3Why does my basement sink gurgle when the kitchen sink drains?
- 6Why does my sink drain keep clogging up?