Buyer guide · Updated August 2026

Leaking Shower: The First Checks Before You Call Anyone

Shower leaks are diagnosable at home in about twenty minutes, and knowing the answer before you call means you get an accurate quote instead of an investigation charge. This is the sequence we use ourselves.

Key takeaways

  • Test with the shower off first - that separates supply leaks from enclosure leaks
  • Isolate tray, waste and walls with separate tests
  • Stains can be a long way from the actual source
  • Repeated failed repairs usually mean the tanking has gone

Step one: does it leak when the shower is off?

Dry everything, then leave the shower unused for a full day and check for fresh water. Water appearing with the shower off points to the supply side - a valve or a pipe joint - and is more urgent.

Water only appearing during or shortly after use points to the enclosure: seals, grout, tray, waste or tanking.

Step two: separate the tray from the walls

Block the waste, run water into the tray and leave it standing without running the shower. If water appears below, the leak is the waste or tray connection.

If that test is dry, run the shower onto the walls only, avoiding the tray, for several minutes. Water appearing then points at the wall seals or the tanking behind the tile.

Step three: read the evidence downstairs

A ceiling stain directly under the tray edge suggests the tray or waste seal. A stain offset towards the door usually points to water tracking along a joist, which can be a long way from its source.

Photograph stains with a date, because the rate of change is useful evidence for both the repair and any insurance claim.

Realistic repair costs

Re-siliconing a shower is an hour or two of labour. Replacing a waste and re-bedding a tray is half a day. Failed tanking behind tile is the expensive one, because it means removing tile and rebuilding the wall - which is why it is usually the point at which a shower refit makes more financial sense than a repair.

Quick questions

Can I keep using a leaking shower?

If the leak is slow and cosmetic, briefly. If water is reaching a ceiling or an electrical fitting, stop using it now and isolate the supply.

How do I know if the tanking has failed?

Persistent damp during wall-only testing, with sound silicone and grout, is the usual signature. It typically appears on showers over about a decade old.

Will my insurance cover it?

Escape of water cover often deals with resulting damage but not the failed component itself. Check your policy wording and document the damage early.

Is a shower refit cheaper than repeated repairs?

Once you are into removing tile, usually yes. Two failed repairs is normally the point to reconsider.

Need a real quote, not just a guide?

We provide free, written, itemised quotes for plumber across Gloucester, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Stroud and Newent.