Baths and showers are the greatest inventions, until they begin leaking and causing issues throughout the home. With most showers being used everyday, projecting considerable amounts of water, a leaking bath or shower can thoroughly damage a home’s structural integrity. Irritatingly, most shower and bath leaks are only spotted after the water has already begun leaking onto the ceiling or under the bathroom tiles. Due to the headache a leaking shower or bath can cause, we advise being as vigilant as possible in searching for possible water damage or loose sealant.
Protection against Leaks
The first time we usually see a bathroom leak is a discoloured patch on a ceiling. By this point, expensive water damage to the inner cavities of your home has already been caused. Whilst it is very hard to know you have a leak in your bathroom before this stage, there are a few tell tale signs your appliances may be vulnerable to a leak, or are already leaking.
Sealant
In order to prevent a leak, it is vital the sealant around your bath and shower is regularly checked for leaks or water damage. If a sealed surface is constantly being pelted with water, particularly if multiple people are showering everyday, your sealant will need to be checked quite regularly. A shower that is used regularly should be resealed every six months to a year. If the sealant in your bathroom is peeling, has gaps or is becoming mouldy, this will immediately need replacing to prevent a leak. It is very important, when replacing sealant, to wait until the area is completely dry, otherwise you will be trapping moisture in the area you want to prevent it from being.
Tiles and Grout
Damaged tiles and grout can also let water seep into the inner cavities of your home, creating a leak. Tiles that are routinely exposed to water, will be worn down over time, becoming vulnerable to damp and mould. More so, with general wear and tear, tiles can begin to dislodge and cracks in grout can form. Be sure to monitor if any mould appears around the inner corners of your bathroom, this signifies either the area’s tile, grout or sealant in not performing properly.
Signs you have a leak
Aside from a dreaded damp ceiling patch, there are a few more subtle ways our homes tell us there is a problem. Homes with wooden floors may swell and warp, if they are damp. Laminate flooring may also distort in shape and lift, if water has made its way underneath the laminate. A bathroom leak and vinyl flooring can be a recipe for disaster, as water can become trapped, puddling between the two surfaces and damaging to wood flooring below. Peeling paint and flooring rot are also signs of a leaking bathroom which may be overlooked, brushed off as typical wear and tear, but in reality it points to a much wider issue.
When to get professional help
If you have a sneaking suspicion your bathroom has a leak, or you have spotted a patch of damp on your ceiling or floor, it’s time to call a professional. Bathroom and shower leak detection and repair service from Aspect experts, will be able to locate the leak in your bathroom and fix it with no delay. Traditionally, locating a leak was a messy job, as experts needed to uproot carpet and floorboards to visually evaluate problem areas. However, Aspect experts have access to new state of the art technology which helps locate leaks with minimal to no damage to your home. Experts will commonly use tools such as thermal imaging cameras, or tracer gas, to help locate leaks efficiently. As with bathroom related leaks, most issues revolve around leaking pipes or appliances, Aspect experts will be able to detect areas with extra water or moisture that should be dry. Even if you don’t have a leak, experts will be able to advise on areas of your bathroom which may be vulnerable to leaks, using leak detection technology.
