How to Fix Shower Door Leaks

Frameless shower doors can elevate a bathroom with their modern look and ability to mimic and enhance natural light. If you have a frameless shower door in your bathroom, you likely already know the benefits it provides. Because of their aesthetic appearance and ability to make any bathroom feel more spacious, frameless shower doors are a popular bathroom trend.

However, if your shower door is leaking, there are easy ways to fix it. In this article, our Raleigh, NC glass installers will discuss how you can fix shower door leaks and have your bathroom as good as new again.

Top 5 Reasons Why a Shower Door Leaks

Shower door leaks are not only a nuisance but a slip hazard. There are a few common reasons why your shower door may be leaking. Once you determine the reason for your shower door leak, we can guide you on repair options.

1. Torn or Worn-Out Seal on the Shower Door

Whether you have a frameless or semi-frameless shower door, one of the first things to check when you notice a leak coming from your shower door is the seal around the door. Most frameless shower doors are sealed with silicone caulk which prevents water from exiting the shower and collecting on your bathroom floor. If the seal is cracked, torn, old, or simply worn out from age, this is probably the reason why the shower door is leaking water.

2. Improper Shower Door Installation

Whether your shower enclosure was installed just a few days ago or a few years ago, it may not have been installed properly. If you had your shower enclosure installed by someone other than a professional, there is there’s a chance that it was not installed correctly. Request an inspection today, and we can determine if your shower door is properly aligned. If it’s not properly aligned, our glass repair team can fix it for you.

3. Not Enough Height on Your Shower Curb

A shower curb also referred to as a shower threshold, is a small barrier at the bottom of your shower where you enter and exit. Typically, shower curbs are only 2-3 inches tall and are the main way water stays inside your shower. In addition, shower curbs should be designed with a very small slant which may not be noticeable to you, but it plays a crucial role in keeping water inside the shower by encouraging water to roll back into the shower instead of onto the floor. If your shower curb is too low, water can escape from the shower and pile up on the bathroom floor.

4. Faulty Shower Door Sweep

The shower door sweep is attached to the very bottom of the shower door and keeps water from escaping the shower. The shower door sweep is a vinyl and acrylic seal that is clear and maintains the frameless glass door’s appearance. If your shower door sweep is broken or worn out, it should be replaced. The good news is that shower door sweeps are inexpensive to buy and replace.

5. Glass Shower Panels Do Not Fit Together Well

If your leak is coming from between the glass shower panels rather than the glass door, you can fix this problem quite easily! All that is needed is a door seal between the glass panels to prevent water leakage. Once you’ve sealed the gap, the water will stay contained within the shower.

How to Fix Shower Door Leaks: 4 Ways

Once you’ve accessed your shower and determined where the leak is coming from, you can work on fixing the leak. If you haven’t been able to pinpoint where the leak is coming from, contact a professional glass repair team in your area.

To avoid damage to your bathroom floor (which is a costly repair), it’s important to identify where the leak is coming from and fix it promptly. Now, we will discuss ways in which you can repair your shower door and prevent water leaks.

Replace Old Caulk

Whether the caulk on your shower door frame is cracked, falling off, or old, you can remove the old caulk and replace it with transparent caulk sealant. By using transparent caulk, your glass shower door will maintain its seamless look. Moreover, the new caulk will prevent water from getting on your bathroom floor.

Add a Seal Between the Glass Shower Panels

As we touched on above, you can add a seal between glass panels if the water leak is coming from between the two glass panels rather than the shower door. If this is the case, apply a shower seal to your frameless shower door to seal a gap and waterproof the panels.

Replace the Shower Door Sweep

If your shower door’s sweep is faulty, you can buy a replacement door sweep for a fair price and have it replaced easily. You can replace the door sweep yourself or request help from a shower door repair specialist.

Have Your Frameless Glass Shower Door Inspected by an Expert

Whether your seal is worn out, your shower door wasn’t properly installed, your shower curb isn’t sloped just right, or your glass panels aren’t matching up, it’s important to have the problem corrected. Even if you fix the problem yourself, there could be another problem with your shower that you haven’t discovered yet. For example, you might replace the door sweep but continue to have water on your floor because of another problem, such as a problem with the shower door alignment. For peace of mind and reassurance that your glass shower is as efficient as possible, we strongly recommend you have your glass shower enclosure inspected by a professional.

Contact Our Shower Door Repair Experts in Raleigh, NC

Using the tips above, you can fix shower door leaks either by yourself or with the help of a professional. While some shower fixes are easy, others, such as assessing and correcting the alignment require specific tools and practices. If your frameless glass shower door is leaking, we encourage you to contact our team today. We serve the greater Raleigh, NC area and offer complimentary estimates. Before our team makes any improvements to your shower, we will consult with you and go over the problem (i.e. what is causing the leak), advise you on how to fix your shower door leak, and give you a price quote. Give us a call at  919-772-1007 or fill out the form below.