When your shower leaks through the ceiling, it’s not something to shrug off.
Water damage can cause your ceilings to bulge and leak, destroy your personal belongings, and lead to mold and mildew.
Fortunately, our team here at ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba is here to help you know what steps to take and how to protect your home and minimize damage.
Key Takeaways
- When you’ve got a leaking upstairs shower, stop using it and try to contain the leak, shut off the water supply, relocate your valuables, take photos of the damage, contact your insurance company to file a claim, call a plumber, and get ServiceMaster by Zaba in for restoration and repair.
- Common causes of leaking upstairs showers include a worn or cracked shower pan, damaged grout or tiles, faulty plumbing connections, poorly sealed shower doors, and drain or overflow issues.
- To prevent future leaks, reseal grout and caulk and inspect shower pans regularly, check plumbing for signs of stress or leaks after harsh winters, use your bathroom fan to reduce humidity, and schedule plumbing inspections every year.
What to Do When Your Shower is Leaking Through the Ceiling
1. Stop Using the Shower
First things first: don’t turn the shower back on until the problem is fixed.
Every time water runs, it adds to the damage happening within the ceiling.
2. Contain the Leak
Grab a bucket to catch the dripping water. If you notice the ceiling starting to sag or bulge, that means water is pooling behind it.
If that happens, it’s often safer to poke a small hole to let the water drain into your bucket rather than risk the whole section of drywall giving way.
Safety check: Never do this near an electrical fixture. If water is leaking close to lights or outlets, skip this step and call a restoration company immediately.
3. Shut Off the Water Supply
If the leak continues even after you stop using the shower, you’ll need to turn off the water supply.
Sometimes there’s a shut-off valve just for the bathroom. If it’s not like that in your house, shut off the main water line.
In Chicago’s older houses, these valves aren’t always obvious, so it’s worth taking a few minutes before an emergency to make sure you know where they are.
4. Move Valuables and Electronics
Clear the area below the leak.
Get all your rugs, electronics, and furniture out of the way before they get damaged.
5. Take Photos and Videos
Pull out your phone and document the visible water damage: stains, bulges, dripping water, peeling paint, and other issues.
These photos will help streamline your insurance claims and help plumbers and restoration crews to understand the full extent of the damage.
6. Contact Your Insurance Company
Call your homeowners’ insurance company and explain what happened.
Share your photos and videos, and ask about next steps.
Get a claim number if your policy covers sudden water damage.
7. Call a Licensed Plumber
The source of the leak isn’t always obvious.
It could be a worn-out shower pan, bad grout, a loose pipe connection, or even a failing gasket.
A plumber can pinpoint the problem behind the flooding and fix it properly.
8. Call ServiceMaster by Zaba
Stopping the leak is only half the battle.
Once water has gotten into your ceiling or walls, you need restoration professionals to dry everything out and make sure mold doesn’t have a chance to grow.
That’s where ServiceMaster by Zaba comes in. Our Chicago team is available 24/7 to handle:
- Water extraction and drying
- Dehumidifying the space
- Mold prevention or removal
- Repairs to ceilings, walls, and flooring
- And more
Need service now? Call us at (773) 647-1985
What Causes a Shower Leak Through the Ceiling?
1. A Worn or Cracked Shower Pan
Over time, shower pans can crack or loosen at the seams. Water seeps through and ends up in your ceiling.
Signs: Stains or sagging ceiling directly below the shower, musty smells, and leaks that only happen after showering.
Fix: Usually replacement. Patching rarely holds long-term.
2. Damaged Grout or Tiles
Cracked grout or loose tiles let water sneak behind your shower walls.
Signs: Bubbling paint near the shower, damp spots, and missing grout.
Fix: Re-grout, reseal, and check for hidden moisture behind the tile.
3. Plumbing Connections Gone Bad
Pipes, valves, or joints can wear out, especially in older buildings.
Signs: Dripping noises inside walls and leaks that happen even when the shower isn’t in use.
Fix: A plumber can tighten fittings, replace gaskets, or repair sections of pipe.
4. Shower Doors That Don’t Seal
Sometimes the culprit isn’t behind the wall at all – it’s the shower door.
If seals are worn or caulking is missing, water escapes every time someone showers.
Signs: Puddles outside the shower, wet baseboards, or leaks below the shower door area.
Fix: Recaulk, replace seals, or add a splash guard.
5. Drain or Overflow Issues
The gasket around the drain or overflow plate can dry out and fail, sending water downward.
Signs: Drips directly below the drain, musty smells, leaks during or right after showers.
Fix: Replace the gasket or drain assembly.
How to Prevent Future Shower Leaks
Once your ceiling is fixed, you’ll want to avoid another leak in the future. Here’s how to do it:
- Reseal grout and caulk every year or two.
- Inspect shower pans regularly, especially in older bathrooms.
- After Chicago’s harsh winters, check plumbing for signs of stress or leaks.
- Use your bathroom fan to reduce humidity after baths or showers.
- Schedule plumbing inspections every year, especially in homes that are more than 30 years old.
How We Restored a Brighton Park Home After a Shower Leak From Upstairs
In a Brighton Park home, a leak from the second-floor master bathroom shower caused Category 2, Class 2 water damage that affected multiple rooms across both floors.
Our team began by removing tile flooring and a 2-foot flood cut on the shower walls in the master bathroom. We also cleaned, sanitized, and dried the area using an air mover and dehumidifier.
In the adjacent master bedroom, we set up plastic floor protection, removed partial baseboards, and made a 2-foot flood cut on one wall to address moisture in the wall cavity. We then vacuumed and sanitized all exposed surfaces.
On the first floor, the water had traveled into the bathroom and living room ceilings. We detached fixtures, performed partial ceiling removals, and sanitized all affected materials. In the living room, we also handled content manipulation and lighting removal to ensure safe and thorough drying.
We completed the 4-day drying process using multiple air movers and dehumidifiers, fully restoring the space and preventing further damage.
Don’t Let a Water Leak Destroy Your Home – ServiceMaster by Zaba is Here for You!
A shower leaking through the ceiling is stressful, but you don’t have to handle it alone.
For Chicago homeowners, ServiceMaster by Zaba provides 24/7 emergency water damage restoration services.
From drying to full repairs, we’ll restore your home and your peace of mind.
Call us at (773) 647-1985 to get an estimate and stop further damage.
FAQs
How can I tell if my upstairs shower is leaking into the ceiling?
Look for ceiling stains, sagging drywall, musty smells, or dripping water after showers.
Can a shower leak cause serious damage?
Yes, water damage can weaken your home’s structure and lead to mold if not addressed.
Who should I call first?
Call a plumber to stop the leak, then ServiceMaster by Zaba to handle the cleanup and repairs.
Will my homeowners' insurance cover this?
Most policies cover sudden, accidental leaks. Long-term neglect usually isn’t covered, so the faster you act, the better.
