Shower leaks can be the source of serious chronic water damage. They're also frequently the source of mystery about where the leak originates. Most showers are enclosures, either one-piece molded fiberglass or a tiled surround mated with a tub, so even substantial leakage may occur covertly, concealed behind the enclosure.
Where the Water Goes
Leaking shower water frequently migrates elsewhere and becomes evident in an adjoining room or the ceiling of a room below on a lower level. Water damage from hidden shower leaks may even be dismissed as the result of normal splashing outside the shower door or spillage over the top of the tub.
What's Leaking
The usual suspects in shower leakage include:
- Seepage through the tiled surround. Water may infiltrate through defective grout. It may also penetrate caulking at the joint where the tile meets the rim of the bathtub.
- Inside the shower valve, the valve cartridge may be defective and leaking. In an older shower, worn washers may allow water to drip between the tile or enclosure and the wall structure.
- Cold and hot water supply lines to the shower valve may leak, as well as connections leading down to the tub spout or up to the shower head.
- The seal between the drain and the bottom of the tub may allow water to seep below the unit. Connections in the drain pipe in the floor below the shower may also leak.
How to Handle Shower Leaks
Due to the unique access issues involved, resolving water damage from shower leaks requires professional expertise to pinpoint the origin, then get to that source with as little disassembly of shower structure and components as possible.
To minimize the potential of serious water damage, call the professionals at Rytech, Inc. ASAP if you suspect shower leaks in your bathroom.
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