This usually occurs between the floor and wall joints of the shower recess. Up to 90% of showers built onto a stud wall will eventually leak because a gap will occur between the tiled wall and the shower recess floor.
Most leaks are caused by building movement and foundation shifts. These occurrences happen naturally over time, but can be accelerated due to extreme temperatures and the decay of building materials. Building movement places stress on many components of the shower and waterproofing system.
Stains and Discolouration
Dark coloured stains on the walls or skirting boards are a clear sign of shower leak in your bathroom. Discoloured patches on the sub floor underneath the house or on the ceiling below the bathroom means you are in need of a shower leak repair ASAP.
Locating the Leak
To find the leak, inspect the caulk around the tub or shower. Look for cracks or gaps; these areas will probably have mold, too. If the tile is loose around the faucet, check inside the access panel to see if there are stains or moisture.
If your grout is visibly cracked or crumbling, it's likely going to be letting water behind your tiles. Even if your grout doesn't appear to be damaged, if it's not water-resistant it could potentially be the source of the leak.
If you think there may be a leak, it's always worth a thorough look. The key points to remember: The main signs to look for are dampness on walls, on the floor, or the ceiling, and a musty odor in the bathroom, even when not in use.
Such shower leaks are usually caused by a malfunctioned plumbing structure behind the wall, especially near your faucets and shower head.
Leaking showers are a very common occurrence. Even so, this doesn't make them any more pleasant, or any easier to resolve. Sometimes the hardest part of dealing with a leaking shower is identifying where it's even coming from, which is the first step before tackling the damage and preventing shower leaks in the future.
Where the wall and floor meet, seal with a matching caulk. Over time, it will be necessary to re-seal the grout to ensure that your shower remains leak-proof.
Your shower water leak can come from any part of the process: be it the water supply that provides the water, the showerhead that disperses the water, or even the drains that take the dirty water away.
To identify water leakage in your walls, look for signs like musty odors, mold growth, new or worsening stains, peeling or bubbling paint or wallpaper, buckling ceilings and floors, wet or discolored areas, the sound of dripping water or warped sheetrock.
In our experience, sometimes, if you have plumbing leaks or a burst pipe, insurance may cover this, but it will depend on the policy and individual circumstances. Generally, insurance will not cover leaking showers caused by faulty, poor or noncompliant workmanship or where waterproofing has failed.
A licensed plumber can easily repair it to avoid costly water damage. A clogged drain can also be to blame for water leaking into your ceiling. If the tub pan overflows, the water leaks into the floor/ceiling and is visible from below. A leaking gasket at the shower drain could also be to blame for the water damage.
The most common reason for rain shower heads to drip is due to the shower heads clogging over time, caused by limescale deposits as well as other minerals and bacteria.
It should be sufficient to reseal your shower every one to two years, depending on how frequently the shower system is used.
To fix it, clean the old joint compound off with a wire brush. Wrap the threads with Teflon plumbing tape, and screw the arm into the back into the water pipe joint. And, if the arm is fine the valve is leaking you may have to turn off the water to the valve and replace the cartridge.
Leaking Shower
Repairing the seal around your shower door will cost much less than if you need to completely repair and replace the shower walls or basin. You'll pay around $150 to $500 to fix most leaks from a shower on average.
When you unscrew the existing showerhead from the gooseneck pipe, there is a chance you can break the seal where that pipe connects to the water-supply line. The resulting leak can be large or a very sinister slow leak that produces only one or two drops of water with each shower.
Shower leaks might seem like a minor problem, but they can actually cause a lot of damage if left unrepaired. For example, a small leak can ruin your ceiling, while a more serious leak could cause mold to grow in your walls.
Other major defects include leaking shower bases, as this defect can cause timber fungal decay (rot) to the floorboards and the floor frame.
Most homeowner and renters policies cover sudden and accidental water damage. Examples would include a burst pipe, toilet overflow, or broken washer hose. If mold develops on a damaged item, it would be covered. Policies usually won't cover damage from gradual leaks.
Thermal imaging cameras, or heat scanners', can be used to help find hidden leaks in hot water pipes under floorboards, concrete and behind walls. Thermography cameras can help identify problem areas that the naked eye cannot detect, revealing hidden water leaks that are otherwise out of sight.
If you find a water leak inside the wall, you have more than a simple plumbing repair. It may be time to call in the pros. The wall needs to be cut open to determine the exact location of the leak, and the damaged sections need replacement. Then, the wall will be patched, sanded, primed, and painted.