The Common Causes And Solutions Of A Leaky Shower

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Common Causes And Solutions Of A Leaky Shower

From time to time, you’re more likely to experience a leaky shower for one reason or the other. When it happens, it can cause severe property damage, especially if left unattended. For example, a leaky shower can interfere with your bathroom paint integrity or encourage mold growth, requiring you to get deeper into your pocket to repair the damage. For this reason, it’s vital to pinpoint the signs of a leaky shower and correct them as soon as they develop to prevent any damage to your property.

How To Pinpoint A Leaky Shower

A leaky shower can result from different causes. Also, the leaks don’t go unnoticed. If you discover mold and mildew growth or peeling paint on the roof of your bathroom, you’re more likely to be dealing with a leaky shower. Also, if you notice water stains on your bathroom’s ceiling, the shower is likely to be leaking.

Causes Of A Leaky Shower And How To Solve Them

There are many reasons why a shower might leak. Some leaks result from water supply leaks or deteriorated showerheads. Therefore, repairing a leaky shower depends on the cause.

While some leaky shower issues are excellent DIY projects, some are best left to pros to avoid further property damage. Therefore, it’s vital to assess your capability in resolving leaky shower issues to understand your limit.

If you’re currently dealing with a leaky shower, the following are some common culprits and how to solve them. You should also visit FergusonsPlumbing.com.au to get in touch with professional plumbers who can professionally diagnose the leak causes and repair them professionally.

Leaky Shower

1. Water Supply Leak

A water supply leak can also cause leaky showers. In such an event, the leak might result from an incorrectly fitted or old connection to the shower.

How To Repair Water Supply Leaks

At this point, the easiest fix might be replacing the shower spout or arm. If this doesn’t resolve the leak, you might need to check on your bathroom’s plumbing, hence the need for a professional plumber’s help.

2. Malfunctioning Showerhead

In most cases, a shower leak is likely to result from a malfunctioning showerhead. The malfunctioning in a showerhead is commonly caused by:

  • The accumulation of mineral deposits
  • Cracked or worn-out cartridge
  • An off-position handle

How To Repair A Leaky Showerhead

A leaky showerhead is probably the leading cause of leaky showers. Fortunately, it has several solutions that can help reverse the leakage. They include:

  • Soaking The Head In Vinegar

As stated, mineral deposit accumulation can cause a showerhead to leak. In such a case, the shower’s holes are blocked, resulting in water backing up around the faceplate or from where the showerhead and arm meet.

If you’re dealing with such an issue, you need to loosen the showerhead and soak it in vinegar to dissolve the mineral deposits and unblock the holes.

  • Replace A Worn Seal

Showerheads are equipped with washers and O-rings that form watertight seals between showerhead connections to prevent leaks. Unfortunately, the washers and O-rings are bound to harden or crack as time passes, resulting in leaky showerheads. If you think your showerhead is leaking due to a deteriorated seal, loosen the showerhead, disassemble it, and replace the seal.

3. A Dripping Mixer

A dripping mixer is also a common cause of leaky showers. Fortunately, this issue can be easily resolved. The leading causes of a mixer valve leakage include:

  • An old or damaged O-ring
  • A loose or damaged tap washer
  • A damaged tap

How To Repair A Dripping Mixer Valve

Fixing a leaky mixer valve isn’t challenging. However, the procedure depends on your shower. Generally, to solve this issue, you’ll need to:

  • Cut off the water supply to the shower.
  • Remove the mixer valve handle.
  • Remove the mixer valve faceplate, then pull off the stop tube.
  • Remove the cartridge.
  • Replace the cartridge with a similar one.

If replacing the cartridge doesn’t solve it, then there may be other problems with the shower. Be ready to get in touch with a plumber or a contractor to have it checked.

4. Issues WithThe Shower Tray

Shower leaks can also occur between the shower tray and the walls. This issue is commonly caused by the following:

  • Shower tray movements
  • Faulty shower seals
  • Underperforming sealant

How To Correct Shower Tray Issues

If your shower tray is the reason behind the leaky shower, apply masonry sealant around it to contain the leakage. However, you should understand that this is only a temporary solution. Therefore, you might need a professional plumber’s help to re-fit the shower tray if you’re looking forward to a long-lasting solution.

Conclusion

Leaky showers are annoying and shouldn’t be ignored. While the drops might seem harmless at first, they can cause severe property damage as time goes by. For instance, once the water penetrates behind the bathroom tiles, they might loosen and fall off. Besides that, water leakage can interfere with your plumbing integrity and cause rust or breakage. As if that’s not enough, too much moisture encourages mold growth that requires time and money to get rid of.

It’s vital to be attentive to any sign of a shower leak and attend to it accordingly. If you’re unfamiliar with how to resolve a shower leak, hire a reputable plumber for a long-lasting solution.

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