Why You Should Never Ignore a Leaking Shower

It's easy to dismiss a dripping or leaking shower and let it go on for months, even years. Even a slow drip can waste roughly 3.8 litres per day, costing you big if ignored. That ominous drip-drip-drip is more than just an inconvenience, and the longer you leave it, the greater the financial burden and damage to your bathroom could be.

A leaking shower is often more than the drip you can see; there's often hidden damage behind the shower wall. Worn spindles, seals, O-rings, or valve seats can allow water to escape behind the wall, which often isn't obvious until it's too late. 

It's not uncommon for Outright Plumbing to be called up regarding active flooding caused by progressive structural damage. It's best not to let things get to this point! Regular maintenance or a service booked as soon as you notice a plumbing problem will minimise repair costs and the extent of damage. We have unpacked the warning signs and possible reasons behind your pesky leaking shower.

What's causing your shower to leak?

Showers often leak due to worn fixtures and internal components. Since they are used daily by multiple people in a household, they experience a lot of wear and tear. Over time, showers can also develop mineral buildup, which can block the showerhead or prevent internal valves from shutting off. Alternatively, your leaking shower could be due to your water pressure being too high. Any one of these reasons could be causing your shower to leak. An experienced plumber will consider all these factors and provide a solution that suits your property.

Warning signs to look out for

Hidden damage escalates quickly; here are some warning signs to look out for:

• Damp or stained walls near your bathroom
• Soft, stained, or crumbling grout
• Musty odours
• Mould on walls and shower grouting
• Loose tiles
• Soft or bouncy flooring

If you are experiencing one or more of these, it's best to call in a licensed plumber to conduct a proper inspection of your shower, its pipes, and fixtures.

The actual costs of leaving a leaking shower

Ignoring a leaking shower is a recipe for disaster! It’s a sure way to run up your water bill and repair costs. A neglected leak can also cost you thousands in damages with professional mould removal costing hundreds, and even more for structural repairs. While replacing and repairing worn fixtures might set you back a small fee initially, that’s nothing compared to the thousands of dollars it costs to smash through a tiled bathroom wall to reach a burst mixer or pipe and fix it. A leaking shower is a ticking time bomb: the longer you leave it the more expensive your inevitable repair service will be. Proper diagnosis and tap reseating are essential in order to protect your plumbing and bathroom.  

How Outright Plumbing can help

Outright has worked on countless bathrooms with leaking showers and is more than equipped to fix your plumbing problem. Most of the time we can fix your shower’s leak without having to remove any tiles. When we first arrive at your property, our skilled plumbers will look at your whole system, including the tap bodies, the seals, and the water pressure behind it. Our team uses moisture meters, thermal cameras and acoustic gear to detect what‘s happening behind the scenes that might not be so obvious. This ensures that we are not just treating the symptom but rather the core issue. Our process typically looks like this:

• Inspect the shower tap body, seat, and cartridge for visible and hidden wear.
• Identify leaks beneath the surface of your bathroom walls.
• Replace washers, seals, and cartridges with high-quality components.
• Check the water pressure in the property to see if it is contributing to the issue.
• Test the shower several times before leaving to confirm it is sealed and operating smoothly.

We offer targeted solutions across Melbourne, from regrouting to full shower repairs depending on the state of your bathroom.

Don't wait to book a plumber!

Don't let a dripping shower escalate into a plumbing emergency! Call Outright Plumbing. Save yourself money and have peace of mind knowing your shower isn't wasting water, damaging your bathroom, or posing real health risks to your family.

Our reliable team will inspect your shower, identify the problem, and provide clear options to proceed. Reach out to our friendly customer service team, and we will send a plumber your way.

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