A shower cabin is designed not to leak in normal use … water is meant to land inside the tray and drain away, with return channels built into the frame to catch any splash-back. A leak while it's running almost always means water is being aimed somewhere those channels can't catch it, or a seal or joint has failed.
Applies to: shower cabins
INTRO HERE
Compatible with many shower cabin brands including
Quick diagnosis
If your shower cabin is showing these symptoms:
- Water appears on the floor outside the cabin while the shower is on
- Water tracks down the outside of a panel or upright while running
- A damp patch appears at the base of the frame during use
- Leaking stops as soon as the water is turned off
- Water pools at one specific corner or panel join rather than generally
Likely causes, most likely first
- Spray hitting a gap or corner directly. A handheld or adjustable head aimed straight at a door gap or corner joint, rather than generally into the cabin, can overwhelm the tray’s lip … this is normal physics, not a fault.
- A failed or missing internal seal. Where two panels or a door meets the frame, the rubber seal strip can perish, come loose or have been fitted the wrong way round.
- A build-up in the return channels. The channels moulded into the tray and frame that carry splashed water back inside can silt up with limescale or soap residue, so water overflows them instead of draining back.
- A gap in the external silicone. Where the cabin meets the wall or floor outside the frame, a cracked or missing bead of silicone lets water that’s already escaped the frame track further under or behind it.
Likely cause
In normal use, a shower cabin's return channels are designed to carry water back into the tray without any silicone being visible from the outside once the cabin is finished … though silicone sealant is still used during installation to help make that seal watertight, even though it isn't meant to be seen. A leak while the shower is running usually means either the spray is landing somewhere those channels weren't designed to catch … most often aimed hard at a door gap or corner … or a seal, joint or the external silicone bead has failed and is letting water through rather than deflecting it.
Check this first
- Run the shower on its normal setting, not aimed directly at a corner or door gap, and watch where the water actually appears outside the cabin … it usually points straight to the panel or joint at fault.
- Check the external silicone where the cabin meets the wall and floor for any cracks or gaps.
- Run a finger along the internal return channels to check they’re not blocked with limescale or soap scum.
- Check the tray waste seal and the hose joints behind the unit too … these are the two other common causes of a leak that only shows while the shower’s running.
Parts that fix this problem
The following replacement parts usually fix this issue.
Not sure which replacement part you need? Send us a photo and we will help identify the correct replacement.
How to fix it
- Run the shower normally and note exactly where the water is escaping before you touch anything
- If spray is hitting a door gap or corner directly, adjust the head angle or avoid pointing handheld sprays straight at joints
- Check the internal return channels are clear of limescale and soap build-up, and clean them out if needed
- Inspect internal seals at panel and door joins, and reseat or replace any that have perished or come loose
- If the leak is at the external wall or floor junction, rake out any cracked silicone and reseal with a flexible sanitary silicone, leaving it to cure fully before using the shower
Also described as
- Steam shower
- Steam shower cabin
- Hydro massage shower
When to call a professional
If you've checked the channels, seals and external silicone and still can't find where it's escaping from, get a plumber or your original fitter to inspect the seals and connections properly.
