Why Is My Shower Leaking Onto My Bathroom Floor?

After a hard day’s work there is nothing quite as relaxing as taking a nice hot shower and allowing the pulsating water to massage away the tension which has built up throughout the day. There is also nothing like stepping out of the shower and into a large puddle of water which has leaked out of the shower and into the bathroom floor. Having to mop up a couple gallons of water and dealing with soggy bathroom mats can also destroy the soothing effects you experienced during your shower.

If you have had a similar experience happen to you, then you know how frustrating this predicament can be. Not only are you having to mop up water every time you take a shower, you are also running the risk that the shower leak will cause problems if it gets to the sub-flooring. These are two very compelling reasons to fix that shower leak. Mopping up the renegade water is an aggravation on its own, but you truly do not want the added expense of replacing the sub-flooring in your bathroom.

A Visual Inspection Can Help Pinpoint the Cause of the Leak

The only way to find out where the leak is coming from is to do a visual inspection of the shower. First look in the bottom of the shower to see if there are any visible cracks in the shower floor. Next, look at the caulking around the interior of the shower to see if any is missing or has separated from the walls. Finally, look at the bottom of the door and check the shower door sweep to see if it is intact. The door sweep is a thin rubber strip along the bottom of the door of shower. There is a big chance that this little device is the source of your problems.

  1. If you determine that the shower floor has deteriorated and is leaking in any way, you will need to replace the shower pan; and depending on how long it's been leaking, you may need to replace the structural flooring that is effected. You may have mold or dryrot and these both need to be repaired as soon as possible. If you do not feel ready to take on a major bathroom remodel, find a good contractor for this job.

  2. Second, if you can see any separations, cracks or gaps in the caulking around the edge of the shower, you must remove the old cracked caulking and replace it with fresh. This bathroom sealant comes in a tube and is easy to apply. Be sure to get complete coverage, trying to keep an even bead all the way around, then smooth with your finger or a cheap plastic tool they sell for this at the hardware store. After you let it dry for the prescribe time you should have no more problems.

  3. And finally, replacing this little piece of rubber in the door sweep is quite easy to accomplish. First though, you will need to go to the hardware store to get a replacement door sweep, so let’s get the old one out of there. Some door sweeps have a screw in the end to keep them in place. If your happens to have a screw, simply remove the screw and pull the rubber door sweep towards the outside until it is all the way out. Take this strip with you to the hardware store so that you will be able to match it with a new door sweep.

    After you have purchased a new door sweep, you may have to cut some of the length off so that it is the same as the old one. To make the door sweep slide back in the track easily, rub a bit of petroleum jelly on it before inserting it back in the track. Replace the screw if you removed it, and test the shower for leaks. You should have no more leaks coming from the bottom of your shower.

Now you can enjoy your showers without the dread feeling of having to mop up the bathroom floor afterwards. You have also just saved yourself a substantial amount of money by not having to replace damaged sub-flooring.