Leaking Shower Door: Common Causes and Solutions (2024)

Having a glass shower door in bathrooms is a must for homeowners nowadays. The purpose of installing a glass shower door is to keep the water inside the bathing space. But sometimes a leaking shower can ruin its whole purpose. A water puddle outside your shower door is the last thing you want to see after a relaxing shower experience and you don’t want to end up searching google “why is my shower leaking from the bottom”. A leaking shower leads to a list of problems like mold growth, damage to the wall and the floor. Many homeowners choose to go the replacement route when their shower door starts leaking, rather than fixing it.

So how do you fix a leaking shower? Fixing a leaking shower is easier than you think. Here comes the tricky part, tracking down the cause of the leaking shower door. There can be several reasons that lead to leakage depending on the design and layout of a shower door. In this blog, we will highlight the most common reasons and their possible solutions.

How to locate a water leakage

Causes of a leaking shower door

A shower door can leak water for several reasons. This issue is most common in old shower doors but newly installed shower doors also have a bit of a share in it.

1. Improper installation of the shower door

Improper or misaligned installation of shower doors can leave enough gaps for the water to leave the bathing area.

2. No caulking

Shower doors are sealed around the edges with silicone caulk during the installation. Improper or no caulk at all can let the water escape.

3. Not inclined shower curb

The shower curb has a step of a few inches that you cross on your way in. Typically, it is not more than 2 or 3 inches high but vital to keep the water inside. It is leaned slightly inwards in case the water falls on top of it so it flows back into the shower area.

4. Damaged or misaligned door sweep

A door sweep is installed to keep the water from flowing outside the door. A broken or loose door sweep installed vertically or at the bottom of the door is prone to water leakage.

How to fix a leaking shower door

Once you find the cause of the leaking shower, it is time to fix it. It is suggested that any work related to the bathroom or a shower door is always a wise choice to leave it for a professional.

They have tools and materials which are nowhere to be found in a common house. But still, if you want to engage in a DIY activity, here are the guidelines to fix the said problems.

1. Water leakage along the wall

To fix the shower leak along the wall; you need to apply the caulk or remove the existing worn-out caulk by scraping it. Make sure to clean the wall before applying the new caulk. Caulk can be in the form of a strip or a squeeze tube. Apply it evenly on the required area and let it dry. Once it is dried, remove the excess caulk using a blade to achieve a clean look.

2. Shower leak from the bottom of the door

Frameless shower doors are prone to water leakage from the bottom of the door. A broken or improperly installed door sweep can be the main reason here.

Looking for additional tips? How to install or replace shower door sweep

How to Fix It; In case of a broken door sweep, you only have the choice to replace it. But if the door sweep is not installed properly or misaligned, you can adjust it and check it stops the water from going outside.

If you find your door sweep in perfect condition, but still facing the water leakage issue. You may proceed to examine the shower curb. If there is not enough slope to cause the water to flow back into the shower area, then the leakage is caused by the shower curb. To fix this problem, you are only left with the option to hire a professional to do the tile work.

3. Water leak where glass panels meet

If you find the water leaking where two or more glass panels meet, then you are in luck. It is fairly easy to solve this leaking problem.

How to Fix It: All you need to do is install a door seal between the glass panels. A shower door seal fills the gap between the glass panels and prevents the water from escaping the shower area.

Wrap Up!

From locating the leakage to figuring out the actual cause, you may need replacement parts to make your shower door waterproof. Fab Glass and Mirror offers high-quality shower door hardware and replacement parts. Head over to the shower door hardware section to explore the shower door sweeps that are easy to clean and leakage-proof. All you need to do is know the measurement of your shower door and the type of shower sweep that will fit perfectly on it.