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It is not unusual to experience a leak in your shower.
If it happens to you, then it can be a real inconvenience. One of the worst
parts of the problem is locating the source of the leak. You are not going to
be able to fix the leak, if you do not know where it’s coming from. It’s
important to do this as soon as possible as it does not take long for water to
cause costly damage in your home.
Sometimes,
finding where a shower leak is coming from can seem like an impossible task. If
you are really struggling then you can call professionals such as Plumbing Detectives to give
you a hand. If you want to spend some more time trying to locate the leak
yourself then here are a few tips that you should find useful.
The first checks to make
The most obvious thing to check, if you think your shower is leaking, is that the doors are closing as they should, or the shower curtain fits properly. This is simple enough to check just by splashing water up against the doors or curtain. Thankfully, this is also simple enough to rectify, by just replacing the curtain or doors.
You may also
find that the rubber around the shower door, or the caulking around the base of
the shower, may have worn and cracked over time. If the leaks are appearing
around areas of wear and tear then you simply need to replace the rubber edging
or remove the caulk where it is damaged and re-caulk
the area.
How spraying water around the
shower can help
If you have
tried the obvious things, and not located the source of the leak, you should
stand in the shower.You should then begin spraying inside the shower, starting
in the area where the shower panels meet the tray. You need to work your way up
the shower, checking for any signs of water leaking as you go. If you spot any
leakage then this may necessitate the sealing of any gaps, or the replacement
of panels if necessary.
Making sure there are no
problems with the shower tray
The shower tray
area is one of the most common places for a shower to leak; cracks and gaps can
appear which allow water to seep though. To check for leaks in the shower tray
you should
- Make sure the shower drain is sealed tight.
- Fill the shower tray with water using a bucket.
- Once one inch of water is in the shower tray, check for signs of leaking around the shower and on the ceiling below. Signs may take time to show, depending on the size of the leak.
If you identify
that the leak is in the shower tray you can apply sealant around the tray. It’s
worth noting that this is usually only a temporary measure and you will
probably need to have the tray replaced by a plumber at the end of the day. You
should also call a plumber if you do not have any success locating the leak. It
could be that you have a problem with the drain of your shower and a plumber
will be able to identify and resolve the issue.
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