First, a simple check
Close the water supply to the washroom for a day, or the main valve of the house if there is no separate one. If the dripping below stops, the leak is in a pipe or tap. If it carries on, the water is coming from the floor, the drain or the tile joints, because daily washing and showers keep feeding it. This is only a first guide: a mistri or plumber will confirm it.
Common causes
- Tile joints (grout) cracked or worn.
- The joint around the floor drain has opened.
- A pipe joint inside the wall or floor is leaking.
- The waterproof layer under the tiles was never put in, or has failed.
How it is fixed
- Worn tile joints are cleaned and sealed again.
- A leaking pipe is fixed by a plumber.
- If the layer under the floor has failed, the tiles are lifted, a waterproof layer is put in, and the floor is tiled again.
- Before the floor is closed, the mistri fills water on it and watches that it holds.
Electricity and water
If water is near a socket, a switch, a geyser or a light, do not touch them. Switch off the power for that area at the main board and call an electrician. Do not use the geyser until it has been checked.