Referral service, not a contractor. Prevent Home Leaks does not perform plumbing, leak repair, or water damage restoration. We may be paid if you hire a provider through a partner link. Always confirm the provider's license and get a written estimate. How this works
Shower pan and tile leaks
A stain on the ceiling below a shower can come from several places. Test them one at a time.
Isolate the source
- Supply/valve test: with the drain open, run the shower without spraying the walls (aim the head into a bucket). If the ceiling gets wet, suspect the valve or supply piping.
- Drain test: plug the drain, fill the pan with an inch of water, and mark the level. A drop over several hours suggests a pan or drain-seal leak.
- Wall test: spray the walls only, avoiding the floor. Leaks then point to grout, caulk or the door seal.
Common fixes
- Re-caulk change-of-plane joints (wall to wall, wall to pan) with a silicone made for showers.
- Seal or regrout failing grout.
- Pan or waterproofing failure usually means opening the floor, which is a contractor job.
Water can travel along framing before it shows, so check for other hidden-leak signs.