Repair leaking lead shower pan???

[Peter Wenning]

My circa 1955 tiled shower with lead floor pan has begun to leak. At this time I have removed the tile and old mud from around the drain out to about two inches. I found that the weep holes at the base of the fitting were completely clogged (several plumbers told me these had no weep holes!). I cleared these out. However, as expected, when I add water into the moat around the drain, it does leak to the floor below, as well as into the drain through the weep holes(now). I suspect the seal between the cast iron drain fitting and the lead is bad somewhere. Any chance I can repair this leak with lead or silicone (after a very thorough clean-up – perhaps with acid, for example? I really hate to pour a lot of time or money into this – we are currently considering moving to a newer and roomier house soon.

[Ron LParticipant]

: My circa 1955 tiled shower with lead floor pan has begun to leak. At this time I have removed the tile and old mud from around the drain out to about two inches. I found that the weep holes at the base of the fitting were completely clogged (several plumbers told me these had no weep holes!). I cleared these out. However, as expected, when I add water into the moat around the drain, it does leak to the floor below, as well as into the drain through the weep holes(now). I suspect the seal between the cast iron drain fitting and the lead is bad somewhere. Any chance I can repair this leak with lead or silicone (after a very thorough clean-up – perhaps with acid, for example? I really hate to pour a lot of time or money into this – we are currently considering moving to a newer and roomier house soon.1/ Check your household insurance, they may cover the cost of this. Or atleast the cost of repairing the damage created by the leak, and the cost of putting the shower base tiles back in, but not the cost of fixing the leak itself.2/ repairs dont work, they either leak now or in a yrs time (you live with selling a house with a bodgie job?? )3/ sorry, but the only way to fix this properly is to replace the tray under the tiles, you have the shower half up now, might as well do it correctly

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