skip to main content

How to prevent bathtub shower leaks

6 years ago

We have a bathtub with a shower and a shower curtain. When we take a long shower, the water leaks onto the bathroom floor and into the room below. Ideally I'd rather stick with a shower curtain than get a shower door but want to figure out how to keep water from leaking outside of the tub. Any advice? Thanks

Featured Answer

badgergal

6 years ago

I used this for my tub shower.

I got it at Bed Bath and Beyond. It's available on line and big box stores stores. I have had it on my tub for several years. Contains the water very well.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

millworkman
6 years ago
How does the water "leak"? Does it run down the curtain or does the tub actualy physically leak? If the answer is that it physically leaks it is a complete gut and rebuild job. If the water splashes out somehow and I cannot see how that much could with a shower curtain then you need to make adjustments in how you use the shower...........
Related Discussions
Leaking tub... kinda
Q
Comments (9)
When you remove the caulk and grout that is in that joint you ought to be able to tell a couple of things about the construction of the bath. You should be able to tell if an integral tile flange was used because the tub top should form an "L" behind the tile, and if you dig out everything in that joint, you should be coming in contact with that "L". If you dig it out, and you cannot see the tub material behind the joint, then your caulk is the only thing holding the direct spray water inside that tub when you shower. That's a pretty important job to just leave to a single bead of poorly done caulk! That leads to the question was a vapor barrier used behind the cement board (or even did they use cement board!)and to a whole other host of other waterproofing questions that may not have been done correctly. It's a good bet that if they didn't do one thing correctly, they didn't do other things correctly, so you if you don't encounter a tile flange, then you may want to think about other diagnostics here that can determine how well this shower/tub was constructed.
...See More
How slippery are new cast iron tubs vs. porcelain tubs
Q
Comments (9)
In my Kohler cast iron shower pan, I use something called R.O.G.3 Its a spray. I can't remember how I came across it. Supposedly it is recommended by Kohler. It works well. I wash my light gray shower pan about once every 3 months. I am the only one using it and I don't go barefoot. So it stays very clean. I could wash it more often, but I can hardly tell the difference. I clean the walls about once or twice per year, because I wipe the entire shower down after every shower with a microfiber auto detailing towel that I got at The Rag Company. Wiping down everything prevents any build up of soap and keeps all areas from getting moldy. I turn my fan on, and run about 30 minutes, when I start my shower and have never had any mold issues in the bathroom. Nothing steams up. the towels I use for drying are: edgeless-avalanche-20-x-40-super-plush-drying-microfiber-towel I hang it over my glass shower door and it dries beautifully. When I wash the microfiber, I wash on hot water with only other microfiber products. You don't want to wash microfiber with cotton, etc, because the lint from these other fibers are believed to "clog" the grabbing capacity of the microfiber. I used a squeegee for a few months and hated the process. A towel is SO MUCH easier IMO.
...See More
need advice for tub leak
Q
Comments (1)
You're not getting answers because there is not enough detail. Without knowing how all this would be accessed, it's impossible to hazard a guess about how difficult or expensive this would be. All I will say is that this is unlikely to be something simple enough for you to fix yourself....
...See More
Musty smell after leak in shower/tub
Q
Comments (3)
The musty smell is from mold - some of which may make you ill. Good that you stopped the leak but without further investigation you don't know how much hidden damage there is. There are ways to remediate the smell but even a slow leak can damage underlayments and structures.
...See More
PRO
Cinar Interiors, Inc.
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
How many curtains are used? In our old house with a tub/shower combo we had 2 curtains. 1 was decorative and hung outside of the tub, the other was either white or clear liner and hung on the inside of the tub. No issues with water getting on the floor.
Nancy in Mich
6 years ago
I use a shower curtain liner with suction cups on the ends and I make sure they are suction-attached to the tub wall tile in a way that makes the curtain follow the curve of the tub inward, so that the junction of the tub and the wall is firmly on the OUTSIDE of the shower when in use.

Before I enter the tub, I will also hold the outside of my shower curtain under the spray of the shower, wetting it so that it is heavy and wet and will adhere to the wall of the bathtub once I get in and pull it into place. This also cuts down on the billowing of the shower curtain. I have a nylon fabric shower curtain.

Just to be sure - you are keeping the shower curtain INSIDE the tub when you shower, right?
phish_gw
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks all. In answer to your questions, I don't know where/how it leaks but I often find a decent pool of water in the bathroom after a long shower. I do have 2 curtains, one inside and one outside.
javiwa
6 years ago
We use curtains weighted with magnets that 'wrap' the front and back edges of the curtain along the inside of the tub, much like this:

No leaks!
Nancy in Mich
6 years ago
Is it possible there is a loose connection in the shower head and a small stream is squirting up and over the shower curtain and you have not noticed it? It just seems odd that you believe you are shutting the curtain, yet you are finding a puddle.
Cathy Conners
6 years ago
i have the same problem. the water runs from the shower head down the wall and then hits the side of tub and runs onto the floor. if you put a "Stopper" a shampoo bottle holding the shower curtain in that corner, it will keep the water in the tub. otherwise, put a towel down and collect the water. I am going to go and get one of those tidee tub splash guards. I will let you know how it works out. It seems to be the answer for both of us.

Related Stories

BATHROOM DESIGN Shower Curtain or Shower Door?

By Lara Sargent

Find out which option is the ideal partner for your shower-bath combo

BATHROOM DESIGN Why You Might Want to Put Your Tub in the Shower

By By Any Design Ltd.

Save space, cleanup time and maybe even a little money with a shower-bathtub combo. These examples show how to do it right

SHOWERS No Need to Compromise on Style With a Shower-Tub Combo

A combination shower and bathtub can be a chic and practical option if you don’t have room for separate ones

GREAT HOME PROJECTS Say Goodbye to the Shower Curtain With a Glass Tub Enclosure

A glass screen or door can make a bathroom look modern and airy, and can be easy to clean if you don’t have hard water

BATHROOM DESIGN New This Week: 9 Bathrooms With Sensational Shower-Tub Combos

By Mitchell Parker

See how graphic tile, hardware finishes and other elements help integrate a bathtub in an interesting way

BATHROOM DESIGN 8 Narrow Bathrooms That Rock Tubs in the Shower

By Bryan Anthony

Not a fan of shower-tub combos or of ditching the tub altogether? Check out these 8 spaces with tubs in the shower

BATHROOM DESIGN 5 Bathrooms With Wet Room Areas for a Tub and a Shower

By Becky Harris

The trending layout style squeezes more function into these bathrooms

BATHROOM DESIGN Dream Spaces: Spa-Worthy Showers to Refresh the Senses

By Mary Jo Bowling

In these fantasy baths, open designs let in natural light and views, and intriguing materials create drama

ROOM OF THE DAY Room of the Day: Ditching the Tub for a Spacious Shower

By Jeannie Matteucci

A Georgia designer transforms her master bathroom to create a more efficient and stylish space for 2

BATHROOM DESIGN New This Week: 4 Small Bathrooms With a Shower-Tub Combo

By Mitchell Parker

See how designers enhance the classic space-saving feature with tile color, vanity style and other design details

Sponsored

More Discussions

I have an off balance space in bathroom

3

tilebar kenridge ribbon white

1

Starmark experience?

1

1” square tile on shower floor versus 2”

5

Can I get a small vanity 15” is the depth

2