Shower Leak in Perth: Small Drip Causes Big Damage in Timber Flooring 🐶🚿🪵
Polybutylene Pipe Failure Leads to Major Water Damage Below a Bathroom in Perth Home
When people think of plumbing leaks, they usually imagine something dramatic — water spraying everywhere or a burst pipe flooding the house. But sometimes, it’s the smallest, slowest leaks that do the most hidden damage. And that’s exactly what we found on this recent job.
Our licensed Perth plumber Darius was called out to investigate a mystery leak causing damage below a timber bathroom floor. The kicker? The leak was only dripping at around 30ml per minute — not even a full glass of water in an hour. But it had been leaking for a long time.
🕵️♂️ Initial Signs of the Leak
Upon arrival, signs of moisture were showing through the timber flooring and ceiling beams beneath the upstairs bathroom. The client had noticed warping and staining but couldn’t pinpoint the source.
A quick inspection confirmed it wasn’t leaking from the shower tray or drain directly — the water was escaping from behind the walls and pooling into the flooring structure.
🧰 Leak Detection and Testing Process
Darius began by:
- Testing the upstairs shower and bathroom fixtures
- Tracing moisture patterns through the ceiling cavity
- Isolating water flow and gradually narrowing the leak source
After some careful observation, it was clear that the culprit was hidden pipework, not a fixture or waterproofing issue. It wasn’t long before we traced it to the dreaded…
🚨 Polybutylene Pipework: A Growing Plumbing Menace
More and more of our leak detection calls in Perth are leading us back to old polybutylene pipework. This grey flexible piping is prone to failures — especially where elbows or proper fittings haven’t been used.
In this case, Darius uncovered a section where the pipe had kinked and weakened on a bend, without any support or fittings. It hadn’t burst (yet), but it was sweating water constantly — slowly soaking the timber below.
He sealed off the leaking section temporarily, but we made it very clear: repairs are not enough. This type of pipe needs full replacement. Leaving it in place is just waiting for another leak to happen.
💡 Why This Matters: The Hidden Costs of Slow Leaks
- A slow leak may not spike your water bill…
- But it can destroy timber flooring, ceilings, insulation and structural supports
- It’s often missed by general plumbers without leak detection equipment
At Plumbdog, we come with CCTV cameras, moisture meters, and thermal imaging — plus the experience to know where and what to look for.
✅ Our Recommendation
If your home was built or renovated using polybutylene pipework and you’re noticing damp patches, ceiling stains or timber warping, don’t wait.
👨🔧 Call the real plumbers with all the gear and every idea.
🐾 No callout fee | 7-day leak detection service | No weekend surcharge
Catch Darius in action as he uncovers the leak, explains the issue, and shows the real condition of the pipework!
