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I had a leak from bathtub drain assembly. The issue was the drain was not tight enough. I wonder how it got loose since there was not leak for months.

Regardless, I tightened the drain and there is no leak but I checked the gasket is bending or bulging out. This makes me wonder if the gasket is in strain abd can crack anytime and cause leakage again. I am attaching a photo showing the over compressed gasket.

What can I do to avoid future leak? Shall I try to find plastic washer? Any advice would be really helpful. Thank you.

enter image description here

NIT_GUP
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  • True, it is not leaking now but for sure in future. – NIT_GUP Dec 27 '22 at 13:43
  • It may leak...but not a lot. A drain isn't under pressure. Water will take the path of least resistance...down the pipe. But I would correct it because a small leak, over time, can do big damage. – Steve Wellens Dec 31 '22 at 05:55

3 Answers3

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It looks like a rubber gasket to me. Rubber is a perfectly fine way to make a gasket, but it dries, cracks, and degrades over time (many years). My suggestion is to replace it on your own timetable (i.e. now/soon) rather than wait for it to leak again. While you are doing that repair, check to make sure the water proofing where the drain flange meets the tub on the top side (normally silicone or plumber's putty) is replaced.

UnhandledExcepSean
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The gasket will leak. Big question is; when? You can take the drain apart and reassemble using Great white or another sealer on the threads and plumbers putty on the drain flange. Don't tighten as much as you originally did to keep the rubber gasket from compressing too much. OR

You obviously have access to the area since you got us a pic. Put a container under the drain to catch any drips, and monitor for leaks. You may find no action is required for years. If the tub is used everyday and no leaks show after a month or so, you can check in maybe 6 months.

These are your 2 obvious choices.

RMDman
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  • That's what I'd do. The leak won't be a huge rate, so you could put a container under the drip and catch it. The water will likely evaporate between uses. If you're real worried, you could put a half brick in the container and put a leak detector on top, which would alert you that the water *isn't* evaporating as fast as it needs to (obvs don't put the brick right under the drip). – Huesmann Jan 05 '23 at 13:46
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Use a heat gun and bend it back in shape.

Obviously the temperature has to be just right, not to cold but also not to hot.

Ruskes
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