As a trusted Water Leak Detection company we know that one of the most common places to find leaks in a property is in or around the bathroom area. That said, knowing you have a bathroom leak is one thing but finding out where exactly it is coming from is another. This is where a specialist trace and access company such as ourselves can help.
In this article we will look at the top five most common bathroom leaks and what might cause them. Each of the things on this list can have several different causes in their own right so we will look at each of them in detail too. We have written another article about when you have a bathroom leaking through ceiling below.
Let’s get started with one of the most common causes of bathroom leaks.
Shower Leak in Bathroom
Shower leaks are becoming increasingly common in properties including in ensuite bathrooms and shower cubicles. Bathroom leaks from showers can be tricky leaks to find and can have a number of causes.
These include:
- A leak from the shower unit itself
- A leak from the shower waste pipe
- A leak from the shower base or tray
- Broken tiles or grout around the shower
- A leak in the plumbing pipes feeding the shower
- A broken or damaged shower seal
- Damage around the exterior of the shower
As you can see from the list above shower leaks can be complex to deal with especially as they are often tiled areas all sealed cubicles etc. Consequently, specialist leak detection equipment can be required to find these hidden leaks in hard to reach locations.
Like other bathroom leaks on this list, people often suspect they have a problem from seeing a damp patch above them in another room, highlighting a ceiling leak. And in many cases, this is linked to something like a shower leaking through the ceiling from above causing visible damage.
If you think your shower is leaking through your ceiling get in touch with the leak detection experts such as ourselves as soon as possible.
On to another main cause of bathroom leaks:
Bath Leak in Bathroom
Very much like the shower leak causes listed above, bath leaks can have multiple causes and may be tricky to locate, even if the underneath of the bath is accessible (although that helps).
For example a bath leak can be caused by:
- A plumbing leak to the bath
- A leak from the plug or waste area
- A broken or damaged overflow
- Damage to the seal around the bath
- Damage to the bath itself (although this is fairly uncommon)
- A damaged area around the bath
One of the key differences between shower leaks and bath leaks is that in some situations but leagues can be very dramatic causing an emergency plumbing leak, because of the volumes of water involved. However, thankfully it is more common for bath leaks to be smaller.
Toilet Leak in Bathroom
Another common source of bathroom leaks is in or around the toilet area. As you might expect, these toilet leaks can be more unpleasant for the property owner as the waste /sewer water can be leaking causing bad smells and hygiene risks. In a normal domestic property, waste water from toilets (known as black water) is usually the highest risk.
The other two categories of water most commonly found are grey water, which comes from things such as showers, dishwashers leaking, washing machine leaks etc. The final group is white water which is generally clean treated water supplying taps and outlets in your house.
Generally toilet leaks fall into one of four categories:
- A leak in the plumbing to the toilet
- A leak from the waste pipe from the toilet (after flushing)
- A leak from the mechanism of the toilet
- A leak from a broken toilet base or cistern
As we said above, bathroom leaks from toilet water can be unpleasant but as water damage experts and biohazard / hygiene experts we have specialist antimicrobials to help treat them. We also have odour control and suppression systems at our disposal, as part of our specialist cleaning service.
On the subject of toilets, we have a great guide on how to unblock a toilet.
Central Heating Bathroom Leak
Next on our list of bathroom leaks is central heating leaks. Most bathrooms in central heated houses will have a radiator or towel rail of some sort and these can be the source of a bathroom leak. Radiators in bathrooms and especially towel rails do tend to have more wear and tear or suffer from bumps and knocks from daily use. In some instances, this can contribute to weakening of plumbing joints or connections which may then leak. Or alternatively, it can be a leak from the actual radiator itself.
Bathroom Leak – Top Tip
Leak Detection Team
“Be careful when looking for a bathroom leak as (a) they can be difficult to find and (b) you could cause unnecessary and possibly costly damage to your bathroom in looking for the cause. If in doubt, contact a specialist such as ourselves.”
Plumbing Leak in Bathroom
Last on our list of most common bathroom leaks is a general plumbing leak. Clearly this can encompass a lot of things especially in a bathroom where there are lots of connections to the water system, including items on the list above. As well as feeds to those items (which may be hot or cold water) there is the sanitary ware itself and things such as taps.
We discuss bathroom leaks in our article about water leaks over Christmas, which has some really useful help and advice on leaks in the colder winter months. And on a related area, we have written about a leak under sink.
Something other than a Bathroom Leak
One last thing to look at when considering bathroom leaks is that it may not actually be a leak at all. Sometimes problems with damp on walls and or condensation can share some of the tell tale signs of a water leak.
Thankfully, we are experts it dealing with condensation problems, damp and mould problems, including mould on walls which often go hand in hand. We can also make recommendations on how to minimise the chances of such problems reoccurring by looking at your property in detail.
For more about this see our guide to what is condensation in the UK we also discuss bathroom leaks in our article about Xmas Water Damage and also the related article about the issues with Xmas Mould.
Here is a useful article explaining more about our services as a water leak detection company. Additionally, we have a really informative guide giving the reasons for washing machine leaks.
We are experts in dealing with flood water damage for people in the York and Yorkshire Coast area, so if you have been flooded, please contact our friendly team to arrange for help and guidance. We also deal with Yorkshire water leaks in local homes and businesses. Here are the local areas we cover.
At Rainbow Restoration – York & Yorkshire Coast we are experts in Leak Detection, including Commercial Leak Detection and also Water Damage Restoration, so if you need help finding a water leak or getting your property back to normal after a water damage or a flood, get in touch with our friendly local team who will be happy to help you with this. We are based in York and help find water leaks in York.
Is a bathroom leak an emergency?
A bathroom leak can be an emergency, especially if the leak is large, is coming through the ceiling below, comes into contact with electricity or electrical wiring or if it involves sewerage. Apart from being careful and watching out for health and safety, the priority is to fix and find the water leak in your bathroom. If it is bad, and you are able to, it is worth considering switching off your water supply at your stop tap to prevent further water leaking out. If you need to, get help asap.
What can cause a leak in a bathroom?
Because there are many plumbing fixtures and fittings in them, a bathroom leak can come from several locations. This can include the hot or cold water to the bath, the hot or cold water to the sink, a shower leak (which itself can have many causes), a toilet leak (either water to the toilet, the toilet itself or toilet waste water), heating pipes in or around the bathroom or even a radiator leak in your bathroom.
How can I stop my bath leaking?
If you are looking to stop your bath leaking then the first thing is to find the leak, which a leak detection company like ourselves can help with. Once you have found the leak, then the work required to stop the leak will depend on what type of leak you have. For example, a leaking bath seal is simpler to remedy than a waste pipe / plumbing leak.