On 5/23/2011 6:27 PM, Baron wrote:
Hello,

Any thoughts on how to detect exactly where a leak is occurring in a
shower when it is not obvious and how to possibly fix it?

The old shower door I had did not leak unless it was not shut properly.
It was old enough that it did not have a magnetic seal but rather, an
interior latch. As long as the door was completely shut and the latch was
engaged, no water penetrated the door or seal.

The new shower door is the same basic design as the old one. It has a
narrow panel on one side and the door itself makes up the rest. The hinge
is between the panel and the door. The door has a magnetic seal. After a
shower, water can be found on the floor outside the far end of the panel and
the end of the door away from the hinge.

I have played with the gasket on the bottom of the door and even
temporarily installed a larger gasket on the outside of the door. Water
still leaked. The top lip of the shower floor was barely wet at the ends
suggesting that water is not getting by the gasket but I may be wrong.

I am especially concerned since 1) the water has penetrated the floor
and can be seen in the ceiling below and 2) an acquaintance who does rehabs
told me he has never had much luck with shower doors. They always seem to
leak, at least for him.

Hi Baron,

I'm installing a shower door now, so I feel like I'm up on them now. My
first question is why you think it's the shower door as opposed to the
many other ways a shower can leak?

How much water leaks to the next floor? If I'm finding a leak, I take
my cordless and an 1/8" drill bit and drill through what seems to be the
most-distressed point. Sometimes make a few holes. It's not an exact
science.

Does your showerhead have a pattern that all hits within the shower when
pointed where a person might stand? If the showerhead has dingleberry
flows on it, I'd start by replacing it.

Do a stress test. Let it run for 15 minutes, and see if it remains
water-tight. If it does, then do another stress test where you take a
15-minute long shower. (Make it more fun by asking the wife to do the
first half, and then you the 2nd.)

Good luck,
--
Uno