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When you took a shower last night did your spouse or child yell that the water is leaking into your kitchen? As a homeowner, one of the last things you want to hear is that your bathtub or shower is leaking. No one wants to deal with flood damage, but at the same time, you likely can’t stop using your shower either. No doubt this is why you are online attempting to figure out what to do if water starts leaking through your ceiling following your shower. One of the most puzzling aspects of this is that most of the time the water leaks after the shower or bath is done. This is why you need a plumbing service in Mansfield, TX.
While you might think that this is a problem unique to you, in reality, leaks that occur after showers are fairly often as are ceiling leaks. In fact, a lot of people don’t notice ceiling leaks until a high level of damage is done. Depending on the amount of leakage that is occurring our wooden beams might be absorbing the water for quite some time before you see it drip down through the ceiling. Therefore, by the time that you see a leak a lot, more damage may be hiding underneath your ceiling than you think. This is one reason why it is so important to talk to a plumbing service right away.
You don’t want to delay further action because you don’t fully know the scope of the issue yet. Believe it or not, water can cause a lot of damage in a very short period of time. You may have wood rot under your ceiling and eventually, if you don’t call a plumber damage the end result might lead to structural damage. While it may seem comical to imagine your bathtub in your kitchen if you don’t address the problem that might be the result.
Luckily, it doesn’t have to be since you can easily call a plumbing service and nip the problem in the bud. A proper plumbing professional will come out to your home to identify the cause of the leak and assess the damage so you know if anything has to be replaced or rebuilt in your ceiling/flooring structure. Quick attention to the issue can help save a lot of grief for everyone involved in the situation.
Figure Out the Cause of the Leak
The very first thing the plumbing service will do when they arrive at your home is to attempt to figure out the cause of the leak. You don’t want to make any repairs until you figure out where the leak is coming from because anything you fix will become water damaged again. Given this is counterproductive to your efforts, it is not the approach that you want to take. There are a lot of potential reasons why your bathtub or shower may be leaking, which is why you need a professional plumber to help you troubleshoot.
Leaking or Loose Pipes
One of the biggest reasons why your shower may appear to be leaking is because the pipes under it are actually leaking or have become loose allowing water to seep out at the fixtures. It can be hard to identify this problem if you aren’t a plumber since most piping is hidden behind the walls, which is why you need a plumbing service to help rule out a leak associated with your pipes. Some homes have open access to shower piping hidden behind a vanity or closet so you can peek around and look for a rot while waiting for the plumber to arrive at your Mansfield, TX home.
Signs that your pipes are leaking near the piping include dry rot that is visible, damp wood when no one has used the shower or bathtub yet, or actual dripping water coming out of any of your pipes. If you notice any of these signs make sure you tell the plumber when he or she arrives, and at this point, you can probably confidently surmise that your piping needs to be replaced. Once it is this should hopefully eliminate the leaking issue.
Bathroom Tile That Is Coming Up or Damaged
Another clear sign that you have a leak in your bathroom that you might notice before water starts to pour down from the ceiling is damaged bathroom tile. The purpose of bathroom tile is to protect the walls and ceiling of your restroom from water damage. However, while tiling is tough it does not last forever. Eventually, it will start to degrade and can even become damaged or loose allowing water to leak out through the walls or the floor. A lot of times the grout wears out before the tile so look for areas in your tiling where the grout appears to be missing as a source of your leak. Of course, this can be an intricate task which is why getting help from a plumbing service with plumbers that are trained to spot problems can be incredibly helpful.
Clogged Drains
Believe it or not, clogged drains can be more of an issue than you think. While it is true that a clogged drain will cause issues with your bathroom including a possible backup, it can also cause flood damage that results in a ceiling leak. Shower drains are very popular areas for a plumbing clog because of hair, debris, and soap build-up from daily use. Eventually, the water may not go down the drain as easily and water always looks for the path of least resistance. This may mean your ceiling if there is an area in the piping or the bathroom that allows it to leak out. A plumbing service is your best bet in this case because they can clear the clog if necessary.