Drain elbow leaking on new tub

Got the Maax tub in and put plumbers putty on the strainer body(4 times & still leaks) with drain elbow gasket underneath tub. Can't get to stop leaking, no matter how tight it is. Any ideas to stop leaking. I used standard plumbers putty.

Is it leaking around the drain where you put the plumbers putty or the connection with the overflow pipe with the compression fitting. Maybe tighter is not better as you may be peeling or squeezing all the putty out. On the compression connection, if you got a twist in the rubber o-ring it may be leaking. I hate plumbing projects. gobble

I too would say too tight will squeeze too much of the putty out until the fitting is touching the tub instead of "suspended" via the putty.
Another possibility is the fitting is tightening up on itself before it is getting to the point of sealing against the tub.
i.e. running out of threads.

Fixing a plumbing leak is directly proportionate to the number of trips you make to the hardware store. It takes at least 5. I think it's in the constitution somewhere.

I have been reading where plumbers' putty is out and silicone is in.

Do some web searching to see what you find.

Agree 07. Too tight. Also, get a helper to make sure the finish ring DON'T turn.
It tears the putty. 3 screwdrivers work good. 2 in the grid, 1 horizontal, to
lock top ring in place.

I would try a fresh gasket. Chances are you over-tightened the nut and wrecked the gasket.

Make sure the elbow is not cocked. You might have to shorten the overflow drain to get it to sit square.

Real plumbers would not be caught with silicone anything.

Mark, seems like we had that problem on my son's tub. The overflow tube kept trying to hold the floor drain "out of level." More of an "out of square"problem than too long. Fixed it with a "no hub" fitting. (The black rubber hose type, with a hose clamp on each end.) Quit leaking.

(quoted from post at 06:50:32 03/15/18) Real plumbers would not be caught with silicone anything.

Click to expand...

Well a real, real plumber would only use screwed together steel pipe or copper soldered with 100% lead solder.
A real, real plumber would only use cast iron drain lines with oakum and molten lead joints.

None of this new fangled pvc, cpvc or pex crap.

2X what OldFarmTractor said. Plumbers putty is out, silicone in. Unless of course you really need to be making more work for yourself.

Plumbers Putty can damage a lot of newer drain parts. Need to check with the drains manafactor (instructions) before you use it.

Bottom gasket...

Check the gasket that came with the kit. If it has a paper "washer". The paper washer MUST be installed between the jam nut and the rubber gasket. If it is not used the rubber gasket will just get squeezed out and cause leaks. If you had the gasket and did not use it. It may be best to buy a new gasket. Then apply a small amount of faucet grease on the top of the gasket that contacts the tub. Do not use it between the paper and rubber gasket.

Top Gasket...

If the drain came with a very thin rubber gasket (Advance Tabco K-63 for example). Apply Faucet grease to both sides of it before you place it on the drain and begin screwing the drain into the line. Once it is lightly snug use a tub drain tool to tighten the drain one full turn (think of it like an oil filter). Then use 2 or 3 oz of water poured around the drain to check for leaks. If you notice a leak, tighten the drain another 1/2 turn and leak test again. Repeat untill the leak stops.




Tub drain tool




Also if you do much plumbing work. I would highly reccomend investing in a RIDGID Model 2006 Faucet and Sink Installer Tool. We just call them a "Plumbers Bone" locally.

Never use putty on a fiberglass unit it will always leak. Silicon clear caulk is the way to go

There seems to be confusion as to what plumber's putty does and how the drain connection is actually sealed.

A drain is NOT sealed by putty or caulk between the drain fitting and tub or sink. The seal is made by the rubber washer between the tub/sink and drain nut. If the washer isn't sealing, no amount of putty or caulk is going to fix it. The putty is intended to fill the gap between the drain fitting and sink, preventing water and crud from collecting there, but it does very little towards creating a watertight seal. Any amount of water pressure (such as a filled bathtub) will force water past the putty.