Any homeowner knows leaking water can wreak havoc. Over time, it can deteriorate wood, and cause mold, and a plethora of issues. If you have a shower leaking problem, have no fear. It’s usually a simple fix.
But catching the problem, and fixing it promptly, is crucial to prevent further damage.
So, is your bathroom’s shower leaking? This is the guide for you! Keep reading to learn the common causes of a leaky shower, in addition to the steps you can take to prevent damaging your home and investment.
A Leaky Shower: The 5 Most Common Causes
First, and foremost – how do you know if your shower is leaking? Because a shower leak can often go unnoticed, here are some of the common signs to look for –
- Signs of dampness on the floor, walls, or ceiling.Â
- A musty odor or earthy smell in the bathroom, especially when not in use.Â
- Visible water stains on the baseboards, walls, or ceiling.Â
- Loose, curling, or cracked tiles or flooring near the shower.Â
- Peeling or flaking paint or wallpaper in the bathroom or nearby rooms.Â
- Water pooling, or signs of mold. Â
If you’ve seen, felt, or smelled any of the above, it could mean your shower is leaking. A shower requires a variety of pipes, seals, liners, and equipment to get the water flowing to the shower-head, at the desired temperature, and to keep it contained in the shower. So, when leaks occur, it’s these areas to look at to identify trouble areas.
In general, leaky showers are most commonly caused by –
- Showerheads leaks – If your showerhead has a drip, even worse, when the water is off it’s time to find a replacement. Be aware however, if you have hard water, the iron can often clog the showerhead causing it to leak. In this case, you can soak your showerhead in vinegar to help remove the deposits.Â
- Drain leaks – If water appears underneath the shower, or in the room below it, it’s likely a drain leak or a floor or shower pan leak.Â
- Grout or wall leaks – Cracked tiles, or grout, can allow water to seep behind the walls causing leaky shower issues.Â
- Shower door leaks – Shower doors can cause leaks from worn-out seals and tracks. Simply run the shower with the door shut, and see if water is leaking through.Â
- Floor or shower pan leaks – Like drain leaks, you’ll notice floor or shower pan leaks in the room below your bathroom. These are usually repaired by addressing a moved or cracked liner or pan, chipped grout, or worn-down caulk.Â
Now that you know how to identify leaky showers and their common causes, let’s review the steps you can take to prevent damage.
7 Steps to Stop Damage from a Shower Leaking
It’s our mission here to make identifying, repairing, and preventing damage from a shower leaking, that much easier. So, without further ado, here’s our comprehensive guide to the 7 steps to take, to stop damage from a leaky shower.
- Identify the sourceÂ
To begin, start checking the most common sources for leaky showers. That includes the showerhead, faucet, and areas around and below the shower. Look for any water stains or dampness to see if improper seals or damage has occurred to cause the leak.
- <style=”font-weight: 400;” aria-level=”1″>Shut off the water supply
As a homeowner, it’s incredibly important to know where your main water supply shut-off is. In the case of severe shower leaks, you’ll need to turn off the main water supply to prevent further damage, immediately. For minor leaks, you won’t have to shut off the main supply, but should consider not using the leaky shower before repair.
- Dry the area
If water is pooling, or standing water is present, use towels, mops, or a wet/dry vacuum to remove it. Once that’s completed, use fans and dehumidifiers to dry the area thoroughly and prevent mold growth.
- Inspect for further damage
Water can be sneaky, and creep into areas that are hard to see. To ensure this hasn’t happened, check for signs of water damage, such as mold, mildew, or structural issues in the walls, floor, and ceiling. Address any visible damage, by drying it and cleaning it, to promptly to prevent further deterioration.
- Seek professional repairsÂ
Let’s be honest. Some home repairs are simple for homeowners to tackle, and others are not. When you’re dealing with water, which is highly damaging to the inner structures of homes, it’s always best to call in the professionals.
- Conduct regular maintenance or inspectionsÂ
Similar to having your furnace inspected and maintained yearly, consider regularly inspecting your shower for ongoing maintenance. This will allow you to catch any potential issues early. Simple fixes, like cleaning and resealing grout and caulking can be performed as needed to maintain a watertight seal and prevent damage.
- Monitor Water Usage
Keep an eye on your water bill for any unexplained increases, which could indicate a hidden leak. To go even further, you can now install advanced water leak detectors that can alert you to leaks in real time, too. If you see a spike in your water usage, this often indicates there’s a hidden leak.
All in all, leaky showers should be taken seriously to avoid any severe damage to the surrounding structure. Print, bookmark, and share this guide to ensure your home and your loved one’s homes are protected from showers leaking.
Seeking Professional Leaky Shower Repairs
In this guide, you learned how to identify, investigate, repair, and prevent damage from showers leaking. Now, it’s time to become more familiar with Metro Detroit’s premier plumbers and most trusted plumbing service, at WaterWork.
WaterWork serves an expansive area in southeast Michigan with commercial and residential services for laundry room, kitchen, sump pump, bathroom, outdoor or water heater plumbing needs.
Our company began with just one truck in 2006 and has expanded to over 15 with our commitment to providing excellent services to our customers. Experience the WaterWork difference for solutions for all of your plumbing problems.
Make an appointment with WaterWork plumbing professionals, conveniently online now.