Do you notice water leaking down the stairs when someone showers upstairs Do you see water spots or wet spots in the ceiling immediately below the bathroom? The upstairs bathroom could have a ceiling leak. This type is quite common. How serious can a small leaky shower cause? Plenty. Water can ruin drywall and cause costly structural damage.
Mold could grow and cause irritation to your skin or respiratory problems. Even worse, your water bill may rise. It is important to fix the problem quickly if you want to protect your home. This is how to fix a ceiling leak from an upstairs bathroom shower.
How to find the source of the leak
Before you begin to repair your plumbing, you must first identify the source of any leakage. However, ceiling water leaks can be difficult to identify.
Here are five possible reasons:
- Leakage of the water pipe: Leakages in showers are often caused by broken or loose pipes. If possible, look behind the walls at the water valve. Are the pipes damaged or missing? Do you see water dripping from the pipes? This is the sign of a leak.
- Damaged Bathroom Tile: Water can leak from the floor below if tiles become loose or damaged. Worn grout or old substrate (the area where the tile adheres to), could also be a problem.
- Faulty shower faucet: Does your shower faucet leak after you turn it off? A dripping faucet in a shower can lead to water loss ranging from hundreds to thousands of gallons per week. It can also lead to leaks within the walls. Damaged washers, O-rings, and gaskets are often to blame.
- Clogged Drainage: Shower drains can become blocked by hair, soap, and other debris. The water won’t drain. The ceiling could be damaged if the pan or tub overflows.
- Leaking Drain Gasket: Over time, the rubber seal under the shower drain may crack and dry out.
It might take some trial and error before you can determine where the leak is coming from. It is possible to find additional signs of water damage. You might consider upgrading your shower fixtures.
How to Fix a Leaky Shower
Here’s how a plumber might fix various causes of a leaking bathtub:
- Before you start any repairs, shut off the main water supply valve.
- The supply line connector joints can be tightened if there is a leak near the faucet or inside walls. Connectors don’t necessarily need to be tightened very tightly. Over-tightening rubber fittings may cause them to crack and lead to leaks.
- You’ll need to put new tile if the shower tile’s sub-base is damaged.
- You should look for holes in the grout. A small crack can lead to a major leak. Repairing leaking grout involves replacing it. The contractor will take out the old grout, and then apply a new layer.
- To remove blockages, a local Glendale, CA Plumber will run an extension cord through the shower drain.
- You may also need to have the drain re-sealed by an experienced plumber. This involves removing and cleaning out the old gasket. Next, a new gasket is placed, then a silicone sealant is applied. The drain is then reattached.