Quick answer
A shower pan leak shows up as floor grout that stays dark for a day, loose tiles, a soft floor or swollen trim at the shower entrance, and a stain on the ceiling below after showers. To confirm it, plug the drain, fill the shower floor with about an inch of water, mark the line and wait several hours. If the level drops or the ceiling below gets wet, the pan or drain connection is leaking. Stop using the shower until the floor and walls around it are measured. Call (888) 840-6512 to reach a certified water damage restoration company in your area; the line is answered 24/7.
Written & reviewed by Marcus ReedIICRC WRT
Reviewed September 30, 2026· Next review Mar 2027
The shower pan is the waterproof layer under a shower floor. In a tiled shower it is a liner or a membrane under the tile and mortar. In a prefab shower it is the fiberglass or acrylic base itself. When it fails, water goes down instead of into the drain. It soaks the subfloor, the bottom of the walls around the shower, and the ceiling below, and none of it shows from inside the shower.
What to Do Now
- 1Stop using the shower. Every shower puts more water under the floor. Use another bathroom until you know what is leaking.
- 2Look at the signs around the shower. Check for loose or cracked tiles, grout that stays dark long after a shower, a soft floor at the shower entrance, swollen baseboards, and stains on the ceiling below.
- 3Test whether it is the pan or something else. A shower leak can come from the pan, the drain, the valve or the wall tile. The test below separates the pan from the rest.
- 4Have the floor and walls around it measured. A moisture meter on the bathroom floor next to the shower and on the ceiling below shows how far the water has gone.
Testing the Pan
A flood test is the standard way to tell a pan leak from a drain or wall leak:
- 1Block the drain with a test plug or tape and plastic.
- 2Fill the shower floor with about an inch of water, and mark the waterline.
- 3Leave it for several hours, or overnight if the ceiling below can be watched.
- 4If the level drops or the ceiling below gets wet, the pan or the drain connection is leaking.
If the pan holds water but the leak appears when someone showers, the source is more likely the valve behind the wall or water getting behind the wall tile. The leak in the wall behind a shower page covers those. A plumber can also camera the drain to check the connection between the pan and the drain body, which is a common failure point.
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Signs of a Failed Shower Pan
| Sign | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Grout on the floor stays dark for a day or more | Water is sitting in the mortar bed above a failed liner |
| Loose or cracked floor tiles | The mortar under them has been wet for a long time |
| Soft floor or swollen trim at the shower entrance | Water is escaping at the curb into the subfloor |
| Stain on the ceiling below, only after showers | Pan, drain connection or curb leak |
| Musty smell that does not clear | Mold in the wet mortar or subfloor |
Repair Means Opening It Up
A leaking tiled pan is not usually patched from the top. Sealing the grout slows the water for a while, but the liner underneath still fails. The usual fix is removing the shower floor and rebuilding it with a new liner or membrane. A prefab base with a crack is replaced.
Before the new pan goes in, the subfloor, the bottom of the wall framing and the ceiling below need to be checked and dried. Shower water is usually treated as grey water because of soap and skin oils, and mold starts on wet wood in about 24–48 hours. Grey-water drying runs around $4–$8 per square foot. The bathtub and shower subfloor damage page covers what the subfloor repair involves.
If the floor at the shower entrance is soft or the ceiling below is stained, (888) 840-6512 is answered 24/7 and connects you with a certified restoration company that serves your area. The company gives you an arrival window for your address on the call, and there is no charge for the referral.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my shower pan is leaking?
Floor grout that stays dark long after a shower, loose or cracked floor tiles, a soft floor or swollen trim at the shower curb, a musty smell, and a stain on the ceiling below that appears after showers.
How do you test a shower pan for leaks?
Plug the drain, fill the shower floor with about an inch of water, mark the waterline and leave it for several hours or overnight. A dropping level or water on the ceiling below means the pan or the drain connection leaks.
Can a leaking shower pan be repaired without removing tile?
Not reliably. Sealing the grout slows water for a while, but a failed liner under the tile keeps leaking. The usual fix is taking up the shower floor and installing a new liner or membrane.
Is it a shower pan leak or a leak in the wall?
If the pan holds water in the flood test but water appears when someone showers, the leak is more likely the valve, the supply pipes or water getting behind the wall tile.
What damage does a shower pan leak cause?
Water soaks the subfloor under and around the shower, the bottom of the wall framing and the ceiling below. Shower water is treated as grey water, and wet wood starts growing mold in about 24–48 hours.
Who do I call right now for water damage?
Call (888) 840-6512. The line is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and connects you with an IICRC-certified water damage restoration company that serves your area. Describe what you can see — where the water is coming from, how long it has been there, and whether it smells — the more specific you are, the faster the right company is on the line.
If the source is a pipe or an appliance, shut the main water valve first. Have four things ready and the call goes quickly: the address, when the water started, what is wet now, and whether you have filed an insurance claim.
Still not sure which of these is your situation? (888) 840-6512 · toll-free · answered 24/7
Sources
- IICRC S500 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration
- EPA — A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home
Methodology: How we source and verify data · Report an error
Disclaimer: HearthDry is an independent educational resource. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional, legal, or insurance advice. Consult licensed professionals before making decisions about your property or insurance claims.
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