A leaking shower seal can cause great structural damage to your bathroom, which can be costly to repair. So, if you suspect any leaks from your shower seal, you should take swift action and address the issue through shower sealing to reduce the extent of the damage. But how exactly can you tell that your shower seal is leaking? What are the warning signs?
Let’s find out.


1. Damp Musty Smell
Can you smell mustiness or rot in your bathroom even after cleaning it? Well, this musty smell could be a warning sign that something isn’t right.
In most cases, such smell comes from mould, which thrives well in dark and damp areas.
If you detect any musty smell in your bathroom, don’t ignore or mask it using air fresheners. Instead, find the root cause, which could probably be a leaking shower seal, and address it appropriately.

2. Stained Timber Under the House (especially Queenslanders)
If you live in Queensland, your house is probably made of timber. But did you know you can use the timber under your house to access the condition of your shower? Now you know!
If the timber under your bathroom floor is stained, it might be a sign of a leak.
Timber is susceptible to water, and if you don’t address the leak early enough, it might cause huge structural damage from swelling. So, in case you spot stained timber under your house, you should consider having your shower inspected to make sure your home isn’t at risk.

3. Wet Carpet
In most cases, when there’s a leakage from the shower seal, you’re likely to notice wet spots on your carpet.
Therefore, you shouldn’t overlook any dampness in your carpet; it might be a warning sign. So, you should trace the leaking point and repair it before it causes any long-lasting and irreversible damage to your carpet.

4. Peeling Paint- Ceiling or Outside Wall
Accumulation of too much moisture behind walls or ceilings is the primary cause of paint peeling. Typically, when water gets between the paint layer and the surface beneath, it forces paint to swell and eventually peel off.
If you notice paint peeling in your bathroom, it could be a leaky shower seal. Here, you should conduct a thorough check to establish the position of the leak and have it repaired before it gets out of hand.

5. Swelling Skirting Boards
When water accumulates in skirting boards, they swell and eventually break. So, the swelling of the skirting boards in your bathroom is a great indication of a leak.
In this case, you should address the leaking issue as soon as you notice it to avoid the extra associated costs, such as replacing the skirting board or subflooring.

6. Cracked Tiles in Bathroom
One of the most common causes of cracked bathroom tiles is leakage. A leakage behind the tiles destroys the bond between the grout and the tiles. This, in turn, leads to swelling of the shower walls causing tiles to crack or fall off the wall.

7. Missing Grout in Shower Seal
Grout is a naturally absorbent and porous material used in showers seals to absorb moisture, preventing it from collecting behind bathroom tiles and walls. This protects tiles from damages caused by excessive water retention and blocks the buildup of mould.
So, if you notice missing grout in your shower seal, it could be that it was saturated by leaking water.

8. Dampness and Mould Buildup
Dampness on your bathroom walls or floor causes mould buildup. Therefore, if you spot dampness and mould on various spots within your bathroom, it could be a tell-tale sign of a leaking shower seal. Indoor mould poses a great risk to your health and also creates a musty smell around your home.

9. Mouldy Cupboard Ceilings or Walls
Fitted bathroom cupboards tend to trap moisture, especially if they’re in direct contact with the walls. So, if there’s a shower seal leak, moisture tends to accumulate around the cupboards and the walls, making them mouldy and making the cupboards buckle.

Wrapping It Up
Generally, Australians spend approximately 7 minutes in the shower, with a significant number of us taking one twice a day. So, given the high traffic subjected to showers, they’re likely to experience damage, with the most common being leaking shower seals in the shower recess or underneath the shower screen causing structural damage to your house.

So if your shower seal is leaking and you’re looking for expert shower sealing services, call us today for affordable and local shower repairs.