Plumbing Basics

Shower Pans

Shower pans often need to be replaced or repaired.

You might see the grout missing in places, a gap between the wall and the tile, water leaking from the pan to the lower floor, and discoloration of your flooring when it is time for repair.

If you notice any one of these signs, you should have the problem repaired as soon as possible.

• Shower pans will need either repairing or replacement to stop leaks to other floors as well as separating pans from the walls. If the grout is turning moldy or breaking away, you can either do the repair yourself or call a professional plumber.
  

• Shower pans that need replacement can be done without altering your current shower setup, but should be done professionally so that no other problems arise during the process.

• If the plumber comes to your home, they will test for leaks to determine were the leak is located. The first thing they will check is the drain to make sure the drain is not causing the problem. They may check taps and tiles as well as the pan itself for any type of damage.

• Most shower pan problems come from missing grout or separation from the wall. You will know more once an experienced plumber assesses the problem.
  
  
• If you have shower pans that do not have a slope towards the drain, you might have problems further down the line. The shower pans that are made today have a slight slope that prevents standing water, which can eat away at the grouting material, causing the shower to leak.

• Another reason for leaking pans could be because the older showers were made with sheetrock, while the shower pans were made with cement and wire lath. Those older shower pans do not hold up well to the movement that occurs when taking a shower.

A licensed and experienced plumber is the best judge of what the problem is and how to correct it.