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I had a leak a couple of days ago from the old bathtub overflow gasket which I then replaced with a brand new one. I have no idea since when it started leaking but good thing I caught it. The problem I have right now is that the new gasket doesn't seem to seal properly. I filled up the bathtub of water to make sure everything was all good but then I saw it was still leaking. Any idea?

New Gasket Installed Current Overflow Hole New Gasket

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    I put the flat part of the gasket against the flat part of the pvc. The side of the gasket you see on the image is against the bathtub behind it if that answers your question. I'll put it back and upload a new picture.
    – user142647
    Oct 13, 2021 at 20:49
  • Yep, that sounds right. How's the fit? That cutout is a bit rough.
    – isherwood
    Oct 13, 2021 at 20:57
  • Indeed. The gasket is not fitting super smooth against the bathtub. I still have the hole in the ceiling from underneath and I when I look down I see a bit of light here and there. I was assuming that when I would put back the plate it would seal up everything but it doesn't look like it.
    – user142647
    Oct 13, 2021 at 21:04
  • Have you tightened it as much as you dare? Are you using the correct screwdriver? (Those may be #3 Phillips.) Those washers tend to be squishy enough to accommodate rough fitment.
    – isherwood
    Oct 13, 2021 at 21:06
  • It was pretty tight but I'm sure it could be a tiny bit more.
    – user142647
    Oct 13, 2021 at 21:09

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I see three potential problems.

  1. The hole isn't very round, which would cause uneven compression of the gasket. You could Dremel out that hump at the top.
  2. The pipe is misaligned. It seems to be sitting high, which would cause the gasket to be overly tight at the top and loose at the bottom. See if there's any way to adjust. Fixing #1 could help with this.
  3. You're not tightening it enough. Soft rubber/neoprene gaskets can handle a lot of deformation, but it takes force.
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