How To Repair Shower Pan Leak

A leaking shower pan is a serious trouble that can cause astringent impairment to your home.

And the longer you expect to fix information technology, the more than damage it does and the more expensive it becomes to repair.

To forbid future expensive repairs, acquire how to identify whether your shower pan is leaking and how to fix the most common causes of leaks.

Mutual Causes of Shower Pan Leaks

Shower pans are a liner typically made of PVC.

They are placed under the mortar below the floor of your shower.

The shower pan is the last line of defense between your shower and your abode's foundation.

There are many reasons a shower pan can leak, but they normally revolve around lousy installation or a very old shower pan.

If the shower pan is not installed correctly or is punctured, typically with a screw, leaks will happen.

These leaks will rust the bolt or screw, assuasive the water to seep into the forest of your foundation, causing structural damage.

Installation blunders besides penetrating the pan include not because where the bleed pan will be or where the glass or walls volition connect to the shower.

All these installation mishaps will give y'all the same result, leaks that crusade structural harm.

How to Tell if Your Shower Pan Is Leaking: Shower Pan Examination

Cracks, leaks, and motion are signs that your shower is in bad shape.

In that location are a few ways to test for a shower pan leak. But there is one specific test that I discover to be the easiest and near accurate.

You will need two items for this test, one beingness a rugged silicone-based waterproof tape.

You tin can get this blazon of tape from manufacturers such as 3M, Flex Tape, and Gorilla Record.

The 2d item you will need is a ruler or record measure.

Step 1. Begin the examination by thoroughly covering the drain of your shower with waterproof tape.

Step 2. Once your drain is sealed by the tape, fill up your shower with one to 2 inches of water.

Footstep 3. Use your tape measure or ruler to note the level of the h2o.

Stride 4. Return 12 to 48 hours afterward to check the water level with your measuring device.

If y'all take a bad leak, you lot may see a drop in the h2o level as soon every bit 12 hours. Otherwise, it may take up to 48 hours.

If 48 hours accept passed and at that place has been no drop in the water level, your pan is in good shape.

But as long as yous taped your bleed well, whatever reduction in the water level indicates a leak in your shower pan.

How Much Does Information technology Toll to Repair a Leaking Shower Pan?

This will depend entirely on how bad your leak is.

If your leak is pocket-sized or moderate, repairing the grout may solve your event for around 40 dollars.

If your leak is horrible, you may have to supplant the shower pan, costing you upwards of thousands of dollars.

How to Fix a Leaking Shower Pan

Once you lot have determined you accept a leaking shower pan, how do you fix it?

There are 3 mostly recognized methods that can fix your leaking shower pan.

The method that works best for you will be based on your particular state of affairs and how bad the leak is.

Masonry Sealer

Using masonry sealer shouldn't exist considered a permanent gear up. It can set up your shower pan if y'all take a pocket-sized leak. Just in general, a masonry sealer is used every bit a temporary fix so you tin stop the water damage and go on using your shower until you lot tin can remove and supersede the shower pan.

You would employ masonry sealer to all cracks and seams on your shower floor.

Applying masonry sealer is an easy DIY project and should not cost yous more 25 dollars.

Repair the Grout

The grout that runs across the floor of your shower volition eventually give out and can be a major reason for a leaking shower pan.

If the grout in your shower requires you lot to mess with the floors or foundation to repair the grout, you're amend off calling a professional person.

If you can re-grout without pulling the floors, it is just a simple matter of mixing and applying the grout and then sealing it.

Using an unsanded epoxy grout will not scratch your delicate tile or marble, and it will fifty-fifty seal itself.

Repairing grout is a medium-sized DIY projection as it will take more than time and labor than masonry sealant and will price yous effectually 20 to forty dollars.

Supplant The Shower Pan Liner

If you have a meaning leak beyond what grout repair can handle, you lot may have no other choice than to supervene upon the shower pan liner.

Shower pan liners merely concluding then long, and when their time has come, you must replace them.

But only replace your shower pan liner if y'all accept no other selection unless you are a skilled craftsman; I would not recommend this as a DIY project.

Depending on the home and the bathroom, replacing the pan's liner volition involve opening up walls or flooring.

The boilerplate price a professional volition quote you for this type of work will be anywhere from grand to 3000 dollars.

If you make up one's mind to take this project on your ain, some guides and resources tin can assistance you.

Your cost will go downwards if you do the labor yourself, as the materials will cost y'all around 600 dollars.

FAQ

How long should a shower pan last?

A shower pan volition more often than not concluding for 20 years. The life of the shower pan volition be affected by things similar how ofttimes it is used and how quickly you reply to and fix any damage. Without heavy use and with extreme care, your shower pan may last up to 25 or 30 years.

Does insurance cover shower pan leaks?

In most cases, they do not. If you take water damage protection in your coverage, generally, insurance will pay for the impairment caused by the h2o leak, but they will non pay to replace or repair the appliance that caused it. All policies are different, and then make certain to read the fine print of yours.

Conclusion

Shower pans can exist tricky, every bit they are sandwiched between your floor and your foundation, so you cannot see them.

You volition have no idea of the land of your shower pan, what materials it's made of, or even how long it's been in that location unless you become information from a contractor.

It is something to consider when buying a new habitation or moving into an older house.

If the shower pan has been down there for over 30 years, be cautious and prepared for possible bug.

Fixing a shower pan leak can be an piece of cake, inexpensive repair on one end or a problematic, costly repair on the other side.

If you have a shower pan leak, I would advise you non to ignore it. At the very least, apply some masonry sealant to buy yous time.

Going through the process of repairing grout volition save you a lot of money compared to removing the shower pan itself.

In most cases, you cannot depend on an insurance visitor to pay for the cost of replacing a shower pan.