The Shower Doctor with over 40 years of experience in the home improvement industry, offers tips and techniques on how to prevent a leaky shower from turning into something more serious.
Leaking shower damage can be caused by a number of things and leaving it unchecked can lead to significant and costly damage further down the line. Just how serious that damage is, depends on how long the problem has been there.
We generally spend around 8-10 minutes in the shower every day with many of us taking a shower twice a day. Multiply that by a family of four or more and that’s quite a significant number of showers every day!
And then there are some teenagers who shower in the morning, shower after school and shower again after finishing after school activities!
That’s a lot of pressure in one small area.
It’s a high traffic area so you can expect to have the usual wear and tear that this would occur. However, in our experience, most of the damage is caused by a shower leaking.
But…if you have leaking water damage – then that’s a serious problem!
It can cause devastation and lead to expensive structural repair damage to your home.
The longer you leave it the worse it gets… think rotting floorboards and joists, swollen skirting boards, crumbling plasterboard and even walls (if weight-bearing) that need to be replaced…
If you can identify the cause of the leak and have it fixed promptly you will save yourself a big headache and many, many dollars.
In this post, we will look at how you can tell if you have leaking damage to your home, what the implications are and what to do about it.
Is your carpet damp or wet?
Ever walked into a bathroom and recognised the odour of wet or damp carpet? If this is happening in your home – you should hear alarms bells ringing. Apart from the wet carpet being a sign of something more serious, it is also a serious health hazard.
Water damage of any kind in your home can be serious but water damage to your carpet is possibly the most serious.
Water damage to carpets affects the physical aspect of your house and also your health.
If you have carpet in or anywhere near the bathroom you need to be vigilant. If water penetrates the surface of the bathroom floor it can then spread out to other areas of your home and this is when things get serious.
Have you noticed any damp spots?
Is your ceiling showing wet marks?
Does your bathroom smell mouldy or damp?
When water leaches out through the bathroom floor, it has to go somewhere and if your home is two-storey, it could be the first-floor ceiling.
This can happen due to loose bathroom tiles, tiles that may be cracked or chipped, or even tiles with the grout missing. Any of these issues can leave the surface exposed to water leaks. You might even have a leaking pipe with water escaping from the pip down onto the ceiling.
Identifying the source of the problem and getting it fixed is paramount.
Mould and mildew caused by a shower leaking
When the environment is moist and warm, there is every chance of mould and mildew appearing in your bathroom. This generally happens when water droplets from a leaking shower don’t dry and collect in the corners of your shower box. This creates the perfect conditions for mould to grow. Exposure to mould can be detrimental to your health, and more so for those who are immune-compromised.
Mould exposure, allergies and irritation are common symptoms of health problems. As they get dispersed through the air, they are inhaled and cause allergic reactions. Mould exposure due to wet carpet damage also causes sinus and allergic skin reactions.
Ceiling showing wet stains
We know when water leaches from a leaking shower it can end up in places it shouldn’t be!
If you live in a two-storey home with a bathroom on the second floor it could be the ceiling below. Keep an eye out for any damp spots or telling signs here.
How can this happen? There are several possibilities which can include:
- Bathroom tiles could be loose, chipped or cracked
- Grouting problems between the shower and wall
- Leaking shower seals around the shower screen
- Sealant issues caused by using poor adhesive
- Movement of the shower tray
- Leaks in the showerhead due to mineral deposits
- Cartridge in the showerhead is worn or cracked
- Leaking pipe with water escaping and dripping down onto the ceiling
If you have any of these issues you need to identify the source of the problem and get it fixed as soon as possible.
Is your wallpaper or paint flaking in the bathroom?
Wallpaper and paint in a bathroom can deteriorate for several reasons. One of these can be attributed to poor surface preparation, but the most common one is exposure to moisture and this is what causes the biggest problems.
Bathrooms are moisture-laden areas for a start so this creates pressure on wallpaper and paint.
That’s the reason why most bathrooms have fans – to remove excess moisture produced by hot water. A fan will prevent moisture from building up in your bathroom.
If you have a fan and you find your bathroom paint or wallpaper is still flaking or peeling, the culprit could be a leaky shower.
And that’s the time to call in the Shower Doctor!
Look out for these signs that you have a leaking shower:
- Damp musty smell in the bathroom
- Damp timber under the house
- Wet or damp spots on the carpet
- Peeling wallpaper or flaky paint
- Swollen skirting boards
- Missing grout in or around the shower seals
- Dampness and mould build-up
- Mouldy or buckled cupboards
Attending to the leak before things get out of hand is the best possible solution, so have your leaking shower inspected at the first sign of any moisture and catch it before it escalates.
Leave it… and you’ve got trouble on your hands.
Get your leaking shower inspected at the first sign of any moisture.
If your shower is leaking and you need expert advice, call the Shower Doctor for an evaluation and affordable solution to the problem. All your leaky shower repairs are assessed quickly and agreed on the best approach before we start. Then the Shower Doctor gets to work.