Blog

Photo By AndreyPopov at istock

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.

Shower Faucet Issues

Sometimes a leaky ceiling is actually caused by something that appears completely harmless if you even notice it. A lot of people turn off their shower and never give the faucet a second look, but it is possible that your faucet is leaking small amounts for hours after you finish your shower. Have you noticed drips here and there but never bothered to call a plumbing service? This may be why now you are dealing with a leak that is coming through your ceiling. Calling the plumbing service when you first notice the leak may have saved you some flood damage, and hopefully this will help teach you to change your ways.

The problem with a leaky faucet is two-fold. Not only does it lead to a potentially leaking ceiling, but it also wastes a lot of water. In fact, some plumbers estimate that one leaky faucet can lead to the loss of hundreds of gallons a week. Not only are you paying for this on your water bill each month, but a lot of those gallons might be dripping down your wall every single day. When you look at it this way, it is easy to see why you shouldn’t ignore a leak and why you now have a ceiling leak. This problem is easily solved if you call a plumbing service as usually replacing a damaged washer, o-ring, or gasket is all it takes to get your faucet back in working order.

Faulty Drain Gasket

Finally, one of the last things that a plumbing service will look for if you complain of a leaking ceiling is a leaking drain gasket in your shower. The gasket fits underneath your shower drain hidden out of sight. Since it is under your shower or bathtub, you won’t be able to see if it is damaged, dry rotted, or leaking, but the damage will still occur. In this scenario out of sight does not equal out of mind because the results are still disastrous. Luckily, a plumber can check and quickly remedy the problem if the gasket is to blame.

These are are the most popular reasons why a shower starts to leak, but this is by no means a comprehensive list. Every single shower and bathtub is installed in its own custom way. Think about your house in Mansfield, TX compared to your friends. Everyone most likely has their own uniquely shaped bathroom with their own distinctive shower and bath setups. It is impossible to list every single reason that your shower may be leaking. This is why it is so important to have a plumber come into your home and take a look at the problem to ensure it is correctly fixed before severe water damage occurs.

What Will a Plumbing Service Do To Fix My Leaking Shower?

While the cause of a leak can vary, the process of fixing the leaking shower will still have a certain process to it that you can expect and prepare for. The very first thing the plumbing service is going to do is turn off the water supply at the main shut-off valve within your Mansfield, TX home. Therefore, you will want to ensure that your shut-off valve is accessible to the plumber to help expedite the process. You will also want to make sure your bathroom is clean and accessible as well as the area underneath the ceiling where the leak is occurring.

If the plumber notes that the leak is occurring near the walls or faucet then they may attempt to tighten the supply line connector joints. Sometimes if the leak is occurring because of a loose joint this alone can be enough to fix the problem, however, this is not something that you should attempt on your own. If you overtighten them it can actually cause the rubber fittings to warp which will result in much more dramatic leaking. Therefore, it is best to let the plumbing service play with the proper pressure.

The plumber will then inspect your bathroom and look for signs that the grout or tiles are damaged. It only takes one small leak for water damage to occur, so it is important to fix and repair any grout that appears damaged. If you have a lot of issues with your tiling or grout the plumbing service might recommend that you talk to a contractor about replacing your tile or repairing your grout.

If they have still not been able to pinpoint the location of the leak, the next step for the plumbing service will be to check for clogs in the drain. Most likely they will insert a plumber’s snake down the drain and run it for a few minutes to clean out any debris. Even if this is not the cause of your leak, most homeowners will find that their shower drain funs better after the process because partial blockages easily form from everyday debris.

Finally, the plumbing service will look at your shower drain and either replace the gasket if need be or re-seal it. Gaskets age even when a shower is well-maintained, so it is never a bad idea to reinstall a gasket to help ensure your shower doesn’t have any more leaks. While they are doing this they will also clean away any old sealant or residue to make sure that this time around the seal is stronger. Silicone sealant is usually applied by most plumbing services because it is waterproof and will better stand the test of time.

Do you have a shower leak that is starting to shower through your ceiling? As you have read, it is not a good idea to wait too long to address the problem. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth services the Mansfield, TX area and is always happy to come to inspect your shower. Our plumbing service has been helping customers in the area for years and would be happy to see what we can do for you.