You’ve come to the right place. If your new shower glass door starts leaking from underneath, it could mean one of two things:

  1. Incorrect Bottom Sweep: The bottom sweep is the rubbery piece at the base of the glass door. If it’s not correctly sized, water can escape. You want a sweep that barely reaches the tile or floor beneath it (excess is not ideal). To check if it’s correctly installed, use a bubble-level tool. The bubble should point away from the shower drain, indicating a proper slope on the doorstep. Next, close the shower door and slide a sheet of paper under it. If it easily slides in or if you see a visible gap, measure that space and buy an appropriate shower door sweep. Sometimes, an overly tight gap is also beneficial, as it reduces the chances of leakage from excessive water pressure of your faucets and shower heads (especially rainfall shower heads). Check sweep options here: https://amzn.to/48EwIiv
  2. Incorrect Shower Doorstep Slope: If the bottom sweep isn’t the issue, the problem may lie with the slope of the shower doorstep. Ideally, it should have a slight decline towards the shower drain. This helps water flow towards the drain and allows the door sweep to create a better seal. With the proper slope, opening the door slightly increases the tightness of the sweep, blocking water effectively. To check this, use a bubble level as described above. Unfortunately, many tiling jobs leave the doorstep angled outward, causing more water to escape under the door sweep like this:

Shower door leaking

To fix this, you can either have your tiler redo the doorstep or install a protective tube seal yourself. These tubes come in various sizes, some with pre-installed adhesive tape. However, the tape alone isn’t strong enough, so additional installation steps are necessary.

fix leaking shower door

Let’s have one of them installed together so it serves you well for many years to come!

Vinyl Bulb Seal Installation Guide

Here’s what you’ll need:

Installation Steps

  1. Clean the Area: Use a heavy-duty cleaner to remove any dirt, dust, and debris. Brush group to clean up gunk (if you have grout in the installation area)
  2. Position the Door: Close the door as if taking a shower (but remain outside). Measure the space between the bottom sweep and the bulb area. Draw a line parallel to the sweep. Aim to position the bulb tightly against the sweep so they work together effectively. If your shower door opens inside the shower, then maintain a small gap between the bulb seal and the sweep. If your door opens only outwards, then you may need to create a small gap between the sweep and the vinyl bulb for the sweep to reach the floor and reposition itself as it goes over the bulb.
  3. Cut the Bulb to Fit: Cut the bulb to ensure a snug fit on both sides of the door.
  4. Degrease the Surface: Keep the door open and clean the area with alcohol to degrease it. Let it dry completely.
  5. Install the Bulb: Peel off the tape cover from one end and start installing the bulb along the line, applying pressure as you go. Continue until the bulb is fully installed, ensuring it’s straight and without gaps underneath. You can trim any excess by gently peeling off and repositioning the ends.
  6. Check Alignment: Close the door and check if the bulb aligns with the sweep. If the fit with the sweep isn’t perfect, don’t worry. Even a slightly loose alignment can still serve as an effective barrier. The sweep might feel tight when opening or closing, but this will settle once you add silicone. As long as the door opens and closes you are on the right track. (A thinner sweep could be required if you cannot open or close the door over the vinyl bulb seal)
  7. Apply Silicone: When you’re satisfied with the bulb’s position, seal the edges with silicone. Apply silicone to each edge and along the long sides, creating a slight slope on both sides. This will protect the bulb from future damage. stop-shower-leak Don’t skimp on silicone around the ends, ensuring it connects to adjacent walls or glass for a durable, unified seal. Ensure that a bit of silicone enters the bulb on both ends to seal it off and prevent any future water penetration. silicone_glass_door
  8. Drying Time: Let the silicone dry completely according to the product instructions (typically 6-12 hours). Avoid using the shower until it’s fully cured.

Important Note: Ensure that the silicone has no gaps, crevices, or cavities to prevent moisture retention, which can lead to mold.

Final Test: Once everything is dry, test it out and enjoy your new leak-proof shower!