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No one wants a plumbing leak in their home. Leaks can cause major problems, including damage to your Greenwich, Connecticut home that can range from superficial to structural. When you see a leak, you know it needs to be fixed, but what about leaks that you can’t see? Hidden leaks can be even worse. This is because you might not even know there is a problem until you notice the growing damage.
One common hidden plumbing problem is shower leaks behind walls. You won’t see these leaks, but you will eventually see the damage that results. Often, the evidence may not be obvious inside the shower itself - it may start to appear in other parts of your home. Additionally, most shower leaks behind the wall are very slow. They can be tiny pinhole leaks, causing water damage for a long time before they are noticed. Here are a few examples of what to look for.
Water Stains Below The Shower:
If you have a two-story home, you may see discoloration on the ceiling below the area where your shower is located. These stains can spread to the walls as the water damage grows. Over time, the drywall can start to crack and have a soft or spongy texture when you touch it. If your shower is on the first floor and you have a basement, you may notice water dripping onto the basement floor. You may also see discoloration of the tile and grout near the source of the leak.
Seeing Or Smelling Mold:
A long term leak can eventually lead to the development of mold. Even if you can’t see the mold behind your walls, you may be able to smell it in the parts of your home where it is growing.
What Causes Shower Valves and Plumbing to Leak?
Shower valves are the part of your plumbing that mixes the hot and cold water to allow your desired temperature to flow out of the showerhead. They have several parts that can get old or worn out and leak. The shower valve seat located inside the wall, the o-ring connected to the shower valve, the threads inside the shower valve, the valve stem, cartridges, and the soldering on the plumbing itself can all be culprits.
Stop Leaks Behind Your Shower Wall Right Away
If you suspect a leak behind your shower wall, it’s critical that you get help as quickly as possible. Water can be damaging to almost every part of your home, from paint and drywall to the structure and electrical systems. The longer these materials are exposed to moisture, the more extensive the damage will be.
Additionally, it only takes a few days for mold and mildew to start to form. Mold growth can lead to even more structural damage, and health problems for anyone living in your home. Mold spores can cause allergic reactions. Apart from health issues, mold can also cause structural damage to your home. Mold remediation is a complex process that is best handled by professionals. Finally, even small leaks can cause your water bill to increase, often dramatically.
How Riverside Restoration Helped A Greenwich Homeowner
Riverside Restoration recently completed a water damage restoration project in the master bathroom of a home in Greenwich, Connecticut. At this home, the diverter valve in the shower leaked behind the wall. Our team had to remove the damaged materials, remediate, and restore the entire master bathroom. This is an example of how shower valve leaks can go unnoticed, perpetuating major damage over time behind the wall.
In the photos from this project, you can see blue and red tape around the shower valve. The blue tape indicates the dry areas, and the red tape indicates specific areas of water damage. After we removed the tiles, we used moisture meters to reveal the wet structural building materials. We use these meters to find problematic damage that is not easy to see with your eyes alone.
Another photo shows the view from directly underneath the shower pan in the basement. The shower pan sits on top of the subfloor above in the photo. You can see visible water staining around the building materials located near the black foam insulation wrapped around the pipe. The end result of this project was mold remediation that had to be performed behind the diverter valve, and in areas below the shower pan from the basement.
If water damage of any kind is not addressed quickly, it can become an extensive mold remediation project like this. If you suspect a leak in any part of your home, take action fast and contact Riverside Restoration for help. We have the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to stop the problem, prevent further damage to your home, and get life back to normal.
Location: Greenwich, CT
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