Why is my bathtub overflow leaking behind the wall?
The angled overflow gasket is likely resting incorrectly against the tub. When this seal is misaligned or wearing away, water leaks behind the wall whenever the tub is filled close to the cover, creating a serious risk for hidden mold.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Using epoxy to patch cracksDid this help you?
- 2Using silicone caulk to fill in any gapsDid this help you?
- 3Watching instructional videos on YouTubeDid this help you?
- 4Placing the black rubber gasket underneath the tub surface between the tub and the drain shoe.Did this help you?
- 5Applying plumber's putty between the top side of the tub surface and the metal flange before screwing it back in.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I tried cleaning my drain and went to pull out my valve but instead I pulled out the entire threaded piece that goes into the drain hole.”source ↗
“And also a second possible problem is when I looked up close the seal between the tub and drain might be wearing away?”source ↗
“Im uneducated about plumbing so im sorry if these are dumb questions but I am super allergic to mold and had to live outside for 10 months until I could remediate my home”source ↗
“The overflow was leaking behind the tub when the tub was filled up close to the cover.”source ↗
“I am trying to figure out how the gasket is supposed to rest.”source ↗
“I have the angled gasket but trying to figure out how it rests.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 6How to fix a botched DIY bathtub finish?
- 4How to fill a 4-inch gap under an acrylic tub
- 2Connecting a linear shower drain right next to a wall stud
- 8How to replace a shower drain cover with a broken screw hole
- 22How to fix an off-center toilet drain during a remodel
- 3How to keep a tub spout drop ear from wiggling