Plumbing question.

[canfossi]

There is a leak under the tub when I drain it, can anyone tell me what is most likely causing this? Thanks Chris

[boxwoods]

The trap fittings could be leaking or the trap came apart.

[morrowsmowers]

Rubber seal is rotten or not in place where drain meets tub. Fittings on drain loose or leaking. Pipe of drain rotten and leaking. Running trap or drum trap rotten and leaking.

Ken in Glassboro, NJ

[Micahn]

Well could be many things including every thing said by others above.

Here is what to try first. Get yourself some plumbers putty and some sort of water proof caulking at any hardware store or home improvement store. The bottom drain in your tub will screw out. It could be very hard to get out if it is a older home. After you get it out apply putty around it and try to get some of the caulking between the tub and the shoe (the part your screwed out goes into)re install it. If it was leaking around there that should fix it. If it does not you have much bigger problems chances are.

If it is still leaking here is what you do. Go to the other side of the wall from the drain and open it up so you get get to the stuff in there. Under the tub where the drain in will be a hole that you can reach from the back side of the wall so you can work on every thing there. If your lucky the hole will be clean. If your unlucky it might be full of tar to keep bugs out of the home. Back when I was still plumbing we filled the hole with tar or concrete to seal it against bugs. It was code that it had to be sealed in some way.

But try the first thing first before tearing into the wall.

[insanity]

Are you sure its the tub drain?
Our tub was leaking into an adjoining closet on the drain end. I decided it might just be the caulking that had turned loose between the tub/shower insert. Thank goodness that was it. Tub drains can be a real pain to work with!

If it is the caulking make sure you cut the old caulking off. Then re-caulk. Looks better and last much longer than patching it up.