Homeowner in century-old home fears leaking tub, cracking bathroom floor mean collapse

The owner of a century-old home turned to the internet for advice after a tub leak and worsening cracks in the bathroom floor made them fear a dangerous collapse.

While opinions varied somewhat, most commenters agreed the issue needed to be fixed soon but did not reach the level of a panic-worthy emergency, at least for now.

Here's what to know

The homeowner laid out their concerns in a post on Reddit's r/Plumbing forum. They explained that they were dealing with both a leaking bathtub and a bathroom floor that kept cracking.

Sharing photos of the bathroom's condition, the original poster wrote that they feared the floor would collapse. They added that they had tried posting in other subreddits but had received conflicting information. 

"Some people are saying the whole thing is in danger of imminent collapse, some are saying it's not going to all give out but the leak is an emergency, some people are saying it's fine for now," the OP wrote.

At least within r/Plumbing, the OP appeared to receive more consistent advice. Replies in the thread mostly came to the same conclusion: the bathroom needs attention, but it doesn't look like an immediate crisis.

As one commenter put it, "That's been leaking for years. I don't see any emergency."

Another commenter, who described themselves as "just a lowly plumber," said the situation looked more like ongoing damage than one at risk of a sudden failure.

"An emergency is like you can't use your water or drains because there's a leak shooting water out that fast or the house drains are completely clogged or the well pump stopped working," they advised.

More background

While many commenters pushed back on the idea that the OP was experiencing an "emergency," they still urged action. 

One reply advised the OP to "Plan on pulling the tub and toilet" and replacing any subfloor that has rotted. They further warned that the house's aging plumbing materials may need work, too.

Another response tied the breaks in the vinyl flooring to possible sagging underneath, and said the main priority should be "fixing the toilet and pinpointing where the shower leaks."

What can be done?

While commenters recommended having a professional come out and take a look at their bathroom situation, most advised not spending the extra money to have someone come out on an emergency basis. 

"You are in no immediate danger," wrote one commenter, reflecting the general consensus. "Shower away."

Still, homeowners should exercise caution in areas where they believe structural support may have been weakened. 

In the end, the homeowner thanked their fellow Redditors for the information. 

"Thank you! That makes me feel so much better," they wrote. 

Where can I learn more?

These stories cover common plumbing problems, from sink clogs and toilet leaks to simple repair tips.

• On Reddit, a homeowner feared boiling water cracked a pipe after battling a sink clog.

• A plumber on TikTok showed an easy toilet repair that spared homeowners a service call.

• A plumber said a leaking toilet fix could save homeowners money before damage spreads.

• A home inspector shared a simple leak-check habit that may prevent costly repairs.

• A homeowner dealing with recurring odors learned how to unclog a bathroom sink safely.

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