First Check Your Bathtub and Shower for Leaks

10/16/2019 (Permalink)

Water damage on bathroom due to leaking bathtub in Lemon Township, OH

First Check Your Bathtub and Shower for Leaks

It’s discouraging to see a water-stained ceiling in your home. Realizing that there is a bathroom above that stain makes it worse. Fixing the problem is simple. Finding it is the challenge. Possible sources are a:

• Bathtub leak;
  
• Toilet leak;
  
• Supply line leak; or
  
• Drain leak.
  
  

Use the Process of Elimination to Find the Leak

Finding the source of the leak may eventually require tearing out walls or ceilings. Most homeowners prefer not to go that route until there is no other choice. Evaluating the tub and shower allows you to test for a leak without performing any demolition. The simplicity of this approach makes it an excellent first step. This procedure can help identify or exclude them as the sources of the problem.

1. Give the ceiling a chance to dry. If possible, discontinue using the shower or tub. If the ceiling doesn’t dry, the problem is unlikely to be a shower or bathtub leak.
   
2. Cover the drain with tape. Only block the holes to the drain. Leave the area where the drain meets the tub or shower open.
   
3. Open the valves. Fill the tub with water to a depth of a couple of inches. Fill the shower base to a depth of an inch but not to the point of overflowing.
   
4. Check the ceiling for added moisture. An increase in the amount of moisture would indicate a leaking shower or tub.
   

Determine the Cause of the Leak

For unbroken tubs and shower bases, the most likely place for a leak is the point where the metal drain meets the tub or shower. For a tile shower, the problem may be a shower pan leak. Old or poorly installed shower pans can be the source of trouble.
A shower or bathtub leak can cause substantial water damage in your home. It is crucial to remove the moisture and repair the damage before mold becomes a problem. Fortunately, there are local water damage remediation specialists located in the Lemon Township, OH, area. When they finish the cleanup, it will be “Like it never even happened.”