How To Seal the water leaking Bath Tubs?

10 July 2018
 
Bath Tubs are one common item found in Condominium and many apartments in Singapore. Very often, they will leak due to bad workmanship in the installation work. Seepage water will often find its way to the neighbor living downstairs, causing damages to their ceiling and ceiling works. This article will describe how one could seal this water leak.
 

Why Water Leaks? 

1. Bath tub has only one outlet at the bottom, the drain outlet. Usually, this drain outlet will not leak unless the water seals are not installed properly or the rubber seal or gasket is old and damaged.

2. Water can also seep through silicone seal or gap between the brick wall and the bath tub.  The traditional way of just using silicone glue to seal the leak would work for a few years;  after which,  it would have to be changed or renewed. 

 

What’s Needed for the Repair? 

 One will need

1. A tube of silicone sealant that cost about SGD$ 3/= and a silicone application gun from any local hardware store as shown

2. Some industrial cleaning fluid like paint thinner  & some duct tapes

3. One length of 20mm x 20mm PVC or aluminum angle trimming also available from the stores

How to Repair? 

1. Water leakage from the drain outlet 

a) First remove the centre screw that hold down the tub basket and remove the basket.

b) Clean up all the debris as much as possible using soap and water. Let to dry or dry it up using tissue or clean cloth.

c) Apply as much silicone sealant to the underside of the tube basket and the rubber gasket, filling up any void if possible.

d) Fit the tub basket into position and tighten the nut. Wipe off any leftover silicone sealant.

 2. Water leakage from the edge of the bath tube 

a) Remove all existing silicone or glue from the wall and the bath tube and clean up using industrial thinner

b) Cut the trimming using a cutter or saw so that it will fit properly all around the bath tub

c) Apply as much silicone sealant to the gap between the wall and bath tube shown and also the underside of the 20mm x 20 mm angle trimmer

 d) Press fit the trimming onto the wall and bath tub using duct tape

The alternative to using PVC or aluminum angle trimming bar is to use 50mm or 65 mm self-adhesive heavy-duty waterproof duct tape.  For this job to be done successfully,   one would need the help of epoxy glue such as Araldite Multipurpose 5 minute Glue and some industrial thinner in the following manner

1.  Clean the edge of the bath tube and the adjacent wall thoroughly,  scraping off any debris from the surface where the duct tape would be, and finally,  cleaning it up the surface using the industrial thinner;

2.  After allowing the surface to dry,  stick the duct tape onto the surface to seal up the gap between the wall and the bathtub;

3.  Prepare enough Araldite glue  by mixing the glue with some industrial thinner together in a small cup until the glue can be made thinner just to allow the glue to flow down the stirring stick or cotton bud;

4.  Slowing using a blade to open a small gap at the upper edge of the duct tape and then use the stirring stick to pick up some glue to "slide" the glue into the gap;  This light glue will make a good and permanent seal,  preventing the water sipping into the duct tap and destroying the original adhesive of the duct tape over time.