Not at all, but it couldn't hurt, and in fact, could show up any problems you might have now before the warranty expires.

That is a test that's normally done after the preslope and membrane are installed, but before anything (mud, tile) is installed on top of the membrane.

This shower is already tiled? And you've been living there for a year?

If the shower is tiled and grouted, and you let water sit in it for 24 hours, some water could be wicked through the grout and into the mud below the tile. Additional water could wick up the walls along the grout lines and possibly even wet the cement board behind the wall tile.

That's what I'd expect could occur in a finished shower, at least.

So you may see a drop in the water level over the course of 24 hours. But it may not necessarily be due to to leak in the pan. It could simply be because you are intentionally saturating your deck mud and wall backer board.

Mongo

Guess it's not enough to ask the builder if he tested the pan and just take his word for it, huh?

I know, I know. Just the idea of doing it and finding problems and having one more thing to discuss gives me a stomach ache. But I guess it's better to be informed than to stick my head in the sand.

When he said to tape up the drain, how does one do that? And what kind of tape will withstand the standing water?

Just saw your post Mongo. So even if the water level drops, it's not conclusive? And, yes, it's a tiled shower that we've been living with since February. (We closed in late-December last year.)

I thought the inspection report said this as a CYA paragraph because they can't test it themselves. But I thought I'd check here to see what the experts (you and Bill) thought.

Thanks for your responses! I think I'll discuss it with DH and see what he thinks.

meg,

I'd say it's a tough call. If you flood it and there are no apparent leaks anywhere near the pan, then I'd guess you'd be good to go.

But if the level dropped a bit and there still was no sign of water damage...did the water simply percolate down into the deck mud, or is it indeed leaking somewhere?

If you flood it and the water level remains steady? Hooray! With no cracked grout and a well-detailed good wall/floor intersection, that would the typical result.

If you flood it and you get a leak? You can get a claim on your warranty.

If you flood it and the water level drops with no obvious leak? Inconclusive. It could be an actual leak, or the water could simply be percolating down into the deck mud that sits on top of the membrane, from where it should eventually go down the drain via the secondary weep holes in the 2-part drain assembly.

Mongo

Thanks again Mongo. It's a close call that we'll have to think about. We're not seeing any problems right now so I'm tempted to not test it. I'll see what DH thinks.