Fix a leaky shower | Life and style

Read article : Fix a leaky shower | Life and style

To diagnose a shower leak, it is best to go through a checklist of likely problems.

Check the door seals

Make a visual check of the door with the shower running. Check the rubber seals are not misshapen or worn, and adjust the shower door's position if necessary. Most door hinges will have adjustment points precisely for this purpose – an Allen key may need to be inserted into the hinges to adjust the door position up, down or sideways.

If the silicone seal around the tray is cracked, a leak is likely. To remedy, follow the instructions below for how to replace a mouldy bath seal.

Check the shower tray

If the seal cracks regularly, check that the shower tray is adequately supported. Plastic ones are often quite springy, so look underneath (most plastic trays have a panel in the side where you can access the underside).

Check that its legs are fixed correctly: it will wobble if it's not correct, but you should be able to screw the legs down or up to fix the problem.

If you can't get the legs to support the tray sufficiently, an alternative is to use wooden blocks under the tray for extra support.

Check the tiles

Check for any holes in tile grout joints: water will penetrate these areas causing damp problems in the wall behind and/or a more obvious leak. If you do find any holes, you will need to regrout your tiles (see Regrout tiles).

Check the shower enclosure

A common mistake made by professionals and DIYers is failing to seal under the base of the door frame before the screen is installed, so water that gets inside the shower enclosure frame finds its way to the pillar bases and creates a leak. Most enclosures should be sealed at the wall edge on the outside of the screen and not the inside.

If your screen is sealed on the inside, this could be where the problem lies. If you feel confident in doing so, disassemble the screen and ensure that you have sealed with sealant under the frame on either side of the door, and any other sealant strips are fitted correctly. Refit the shower cubicle.

However, if you think dismantling a shower cubicle is way beyond your DIY skills, this is the time to call in a skilled friend or to hire a professional.