How To Stop An Over Bath Shower Screen From Leaking

There are a few things that could cause an over bath shower screen to leak, so finding the reason for the problem is a really important first step. No matter if it’s a new or old shower, these are some of the potential reasons you could be experiencing a leaking shower door:

• Ineffective caulking
  
• Broken or ineffective shower door sweeps
  
• Broken or ineffective glass shower door seal
  
• Clogged drains
  

The second step is to find the exact location of the leak. There are a few places you should check: For an over bath shower screen it is best to turn on the shower, close the door and stand outside to watch where the water is coming out of. Points to check include, where the shower screen meets the wall and where the bottom of the shower door meets the bath. For other showers, such as walk in showers, check the following spots to locate the leak:

• Along the inside wall of your shower
• The corner where the shower door meets the jamb seal
• The bottom of the shower door
• The shower door track

Once you’ve found the location of the leak, you can start to prepare the tools and parts you’ll need to fix it.

Depending on the type of shower door you have, the things you require will differ. Below is a full list of required tools and parts you might need:

• Caulk
  
• Screwdriver
  
• New shower sweep
  
• Replacement rollers (for tracks)
  
• Stanley knife or razor blade
  
• Sandpaper
  

1. If your over bath shower screen is leaking from door to wall:

So, you’ve located the leak is along the wall where the door meets the wall. The obvious cause of this is insufficient waterproofing from the sealant. In order to fix this you should:

1. Remove the old discoloured sealant from around the bath shower screen
2. Re-apply a fresh new white sealant

2. If your over bath shower screen is leaking from underneath the screen:

If the leak is from under the screen where the door meets the bath, there are two possible causes. A deteriorated bottom seal or blocked drainage holes.

1. Feel underneath the screen to find where the drainage holes are
2. Using a thin object like a small screwdriver, push up into the drainage holes to dislodge and clean out anything that could be blocking them such as dirt
3. If the leak is still coming from under the screen, check the bottom sealant, if this is discoloured, deteriorating or perhaps incorrectly installed, you will need to remove it and re-apply a new bottom sealant

In the next section, we’ll detail how to fix a leaking shower door for your shower enclosure, covering three different types of shower doors: framed shower doors, frameless shower doors, and sliding shower doors.

Fixing a broken or ineffective door sweep

1. Remove the old sweep.
2. Check to see if the sweep is clogged up, if so try to unclog it.
   
3. Install a new sweep.
   

Fixing ineffective caulking
 

1. Remove the old glass shower door seal or caulking with a Stanley knife or razor blade.
2. Re-apply the caulking.
   
3. Sand down the reapplied caulking to remove any excess adhesive.
   
4. Clean down the surface.
   

Fixing bad tracks on frameless doors
 

1. Using the screwdriver, remove either the guide rail that runs along the edge of the door, or the plastic guide that sits in the middle of the lower track.
2. Lift the doors out of the track and put them in a safe place out of the way.
   
3. Spray the tracks with a silicon lubricant if they are not working smoothly.
   
4. Using the screwdriver, loosen the screw holding the roller. Then, using the slanted slot it is attached to, make the adjustments you need.
   
5. Put the door back in the track and test the track.
6. Repeat the process until you have a smooth and secure door.
   
7. Replace the guide or track when the adjustment is complete.

Fixing bad tracks on a sliding door
 

1. Start by loosening the tension screws on the door until you can remove the door from off the track.
2. Remove the frame. This is normally held in place by clips or screws.
   
3. Unscrew the track and replace it with your new one.
   
4. Re-install the frame and the door.

Clogged drains

If you think the cause of the problem could be due to blocked drains, there are a few ways you can try and fix this.

1. Pour boiling water down the drain
2. Use a plunger to release hair blockage
3. Combine baking soda and vinegar for a deeper blockage, to dissolve the hair clogs
4. Use chemical drain-cleaning products

If your screen is still leaking after the DIY efforts, just get in touch with one of our installers, who can fix or replace your Mira shower door in no time and make over bath shower screen leaks a thing of the past.

If it’s time for a new screen altogether and you’d like some inspiration, check out the full Mira Showers range of bath shower screens.