A hot shower can fix your bad days and make you feel renewed. But, when the shower malfunctions, how many of us know how to fix a leaking pipe? Most of us would call a plumber to get the work done properly, but that isn’t always necessary when it comes to simple problems. Plumbers can be expensive, and the water bill from constant bathroom leaks might cut another hole in your pocket. Since shower related plumbing issues are one of the most common problems in all homes, some of these do-it-yourself (DIY) hacks could safeguard your wallet and teach you much-needed life skills.
Why does the bathroom shower leak?
It isn’t always easy to figure out why you have a bathroom leak. However, it may seem obvious when you continuously find a wet floor and no taps on, but pinpointing the problem can be tricky. You will need to employ the process of elimination to find the root of the leaking shower and repair it.
Below are some tips for troubleshooting where a leak is coming from and fixing it:
Check the Shower Floor
Most people conclude that water on the floor means that water has fallen from above, but checking for cracks or damage in the floor should be the first step in the process of elimination. Check for even the finest cracks as these could be the biggest culprits. To be on the safer side, plug the shower drain so no water can go in and fill the shower pan or douse the bathroom floor with a large bucket of water. If the standing water drains out of any cracks or you can see bubbles, you need to inspect the floor further. Remove the tile from where the leak is detected to get a better picture of the damage below.
Check the Shower Drain
In some cases, the drain turns out to be the main problem. To check, first dry the floor of the shower completely. Use a fan if you want to speed up the process. Then, using a funnel, pour water into the drain and check for any leaks that show up on the floor. If the drain turns out to be the problem, it may be time to call the plumber for help as fixing unseen damage deep within the floor and drain is best done by a professional.
Leaking Shower Repair: The Tap
If it is neither the floor nor the drain, then you know it has to be one of the pipes that are leaking. If this is the case, it is also easy to spot because the water escaping can be localized to the leak. If the main problem is the faucet, then tightening the faucet and its screws from the inside might do the trick to fix the bathroom leak. The tap heads can also be replaced if tightening them doesn’t work. If the problem persists even after fixing the external faucet, then the problem is bound to be an internal leaking pipe. It is best to call a plumber for help in this case as not every layman knows how to fix a leaking pipe from inside the wall. Removing a piece of the wall without professional knowledge can also lead to more profound damage in the bathroom pipes.
Leaking Shower Repair: The Showerhead or Shower Arm
Showerhead leaks can be from 2 different sources: either it is the actual showerhead, or the pipe holding the showerhead. First, carefully remove the showerhead and check thoroughly for damage or cracks. Incorrectly removing the showerhead can damage the pipe holding it. A plastic head cracks much more quickly than a metal head. It is best to replace a plastic showerhead in case of damage as any fix will only be temporary. A metal showerhead can become stronger with welding and the use of plumber’s tape, but in the long run, it may cause problems again. Look into top quality showerheads for long-lasting usage.
Other phases of shower problems
The problem might also be coming from the arm/shower pipe that holds the showerhead. The shower arm and the vertical water pipe connected to it behind the wall could break if there is too much water pressure coming from the water. The shower arm can also become weak due to normal wear and tear from constantly adjusting the showerhead over the years. In the case of only a shower arm being damaged, you could try to replace the entire external area of the shower by yourself. However, if there is damage to the pipes inside the wall, it becomes difficult to break through the wall and try to fix it yourself. To be sure that it is a case of leaking pipes behind the wall, check if water is seeping through and keeping the bathroom walls constantly damp. There may also be moss or mold growth in perpetually wet places in the bathroom. For more extensive problems, call a professional for help.
Investing in a high-quality shower solves a significant portion of your problem. Check out Jaquar for premium bathroom products. Also, make sure to involve in regular maintenance processes to increase the durability of the products.