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Leaking Shower Door: Common Causes and Solutions
By Anna Walter
Having a glass shower door in bathrooms is a must for homeowners nowadays. The purpose of installing a glass shower door is to keep the water inside the bathing space. However, a shower with glass door can sometimes develop issues, and a leaking shower can ruin its whole purpose. A water puddle outside your shower door is the last thing you want to see after a relaxing shower experience, and you don’t want to end up searching Google “why is my shower leaking from the bottom.” A leaking shower leads to a list of problems like mold growth, damage to the wall, and the floor. Many homeowners choose to go the replacement route when their shower door starts leaking, rather than fixing it.
So how do you fix a leaking shower? Fixing a leaking shower is easier than you think. Here comes the tricky part, tracking down the cause of the leaking shower door. There can be several reasons that lead to leakage depending on the design and layout of a shower door. In this blog, we will highlight the most common reasons and their possible solutions.
Table of Contents
How to locate a water leakage
You may need to pay close attention to find out which part of the door is causing leakage. A simple inspection, like turning on the water and examining the door from the outside to see where the water appears first, can help. If you have clean glass shower doors, make sure to check the seals and edges where water might seep through. It can be more than one location where the water is leaking.
Typical water leakage locations
- Hinges and seals
- Where the door meets the wall
- Bottom of the glass shower door
Causes of a leaking shower door
A shower door can leak water for several reasons. This issue is most common in old shower doors but newly installed shower doors also have a bit of a share in it.
1. Improper installation of the shower door
Improper or misaligned installation of shower doors, along with adjusting a shower door incorrectly, can leave enough gaps for the water to leave the bathing area.
2. No caulking
Shower doors are sealed around the edges with silicone caulk during the installation. Improper or no caulk at all can let the water escape.
3. Not inclined shower curb
The shower curb has a step of a few inches that you cross on your way in. Typically, it is not more than 2 or 3 inches high but vital to keep the water inside. It is leaned slightly inwards in case the water falls on top of it so it flows back into the shower area.
4. Damaged or misaligned door sweep
A door sweep is installed to keep the water from flowing outside the door. A broken or loose door sweep installed vertically or at the bottom of the door is prone to water leakage, especially around a shower glass door with a black frame.
How to fix a leaking shower door
Once you find the cause of the leaking shower, it is time to fix it. It is suggested that any work related to the bathroom or a shower door is always a wise choice to leave it for a professional.
They have tools and materials which are nowhere to be found in a common house. But still, if you want to engage in a DIY activity, here are the guidelines to fix the said problems, including considerations for walk-in shower cost if you’re planning a bathroom renovation.
1. Water leakage along the wall
To fix the shower leak along the wall, you need to apply the caulk or remove the existing worn-out caulk by scraping it. Make sure to clean the wall before applying the new caulk, and consider performing glass shower doors cleaning as well for a complete fresh look. Caulk can be in the form of a strip or a squeeze tube. Apply it evenly on the required area and let it dry. Once it is dried, remove the excess caulk using a blade to achieve a clean look.
2. Shower leak from the bottom of the door
Frameless shower doors are prone to water leakage from the bottom of the door. A broken or improperly installed door sweep can be the main reason here.
Looking for additional tips? How to install or replace shower door sweep
How to Fix It; In case of a broken door sweep, you only have the choice to replace it. But if the door sweep is not installed properly or misaligned, you can adjust it and check it stops the water from going outside.
If you find your door sweep in perfect condition, but still facing the water leakage issue, you may proceed to examine the shower curb or the shower curtain or glass door. If there is not enough slope to cause the water to flow back into the shower area, then the leakage is caused by the shower curb. To fix this problem, you are only left with the option to hire a professional to do the tile work.
3. Water leak where glass panels meet
If you find the water leaking where two or more glass panels meet, then you are in luck. It is fairly easy to solve this leaking problem.
How to Fix It: All you need to do is install a door seal between the glass panels. A shower door seal fills the gap between the glass panels and prevents the water from escaping the shower area. If you’re looking for high-quality options, you have to buy mirror & glass accessories that include durable seals designed to enhance the functionality of your shower enclosure.
Wrap Up!
From locating the leakage to figuring out the actual cause, you may need replacement parts to make your shower door waterproof. Fab Glass and Mirror offers high-quality shower door hardware and replacement parts. Head over to the shower door hardware section to explore the shower door sweeps that are easy to clean and leakage-proof. All you need to do is know the measurement of your shower door and the type of shower sweep that will fit perfectly on it.
