Shower door leaking at the bottom
A shower door leaking at the bottom almost always has a worn, torn or missing door sweep, the soft strip that runs along the bottom edge of the door. A new sweep costs about $10 to $30, slides on by hand and takes about half an hour. If water still escapes, the side seals, the caulk outside the frame or a blocked weep hole in the track are the next things to check. A $15 sweep stops most shower door leaks.
How a shower door keeps water in
Glass shower doors don't seal against the floor on their own. A vinyl sweep with a soft fin is pressed onto the bottom edge of the door, and its fin drags along the curb or threshold so water runs back into the shower. Hinged doors often have a drip rail on the outside of the bottom edge too, and frameless doors have clear vertical strips on their sides.
Sweeps harden, crack and pick up soap scum over a few years, and the fin stops touching the curb. Framed doors and tub enclosures also have a track at the bottom with small weep holes that let water drain back inside. When those holes clog, the track fills up and water spills over the outside edge.
Why shower doors leak
The fin no longer touches the curb.
It pushes water out instead of in.
Water escapes at the corners.
The track fills and spills over.
Water seeps under the frame.
| You notice | Likely cause | Start at |
|---|---|---|
| Along the whole bottom edge | Worn sweep | Step 3 |
| At one bottom corner | Side seal or caulk | Step 6 |
| Coming out of the track | Clogged weep holes | Step 6 |
| Sweep is new but still leaks | Fin facing out | Step 5 |
| Floor outside is soft | Long-term leak | Call a pro |
Let's fix it
- Find where it leaksDry the floor and the outside of the door, lay a dry towel along the bottom, close the door and run the shower at the door for a minute. Look for the wet spot. Water along the whole bottom edge points to the sweep. Water at one corner points to a side seal or the caulk. Water coming out of the track on a framed door points to clogged weep holes.
- Measure the doorMeasure the glass thickness, usually 1/4, 5/16, 3/8 or 1/2 inch, and the width of the door. Note the gap between the bottom of the glass and the curb. Buy a sweep made for that glass thickness that's at least as long as the door is wide.
- Take off the old sweepOpen the door and slide the old sweep off the end of the glass, or pull it straight down if it's pressed on. If it's stuck, soften the soap scum with warm water and work it loose with a plastic putty knife. Never pry against the glass with metal. Clean the bottom edge of the glass so the new sweep grips.
- Cut the new sweep to lengthHold the new sweep against the door and mark it so it ends about 1/8 inch short of each side. Cut it with a fine-tooth hacksaw or score and snap it with a sharp utility knife. Cut slowly so the end stays clean and square.
- Slide it on and set the finSlide or press the sweep onto the bottom of the glass with its fin angled in toward the shower, so it pushes water back inside. On a hinged door with a drip rail, the rail goes on the outside face. Close the door and check that the fin lightly touches the curb along its whole length without dragging hard.
- Check the seals, track and caulkRun the water at the door again. If it still leaks at a corner, replace the vertical side seals the same way. On a framed door, poke out the weep holes in the track with a toothpick so water drains back in. Look at the caulk where the frame meets the tub or curb on the outside and replace any that's cracked, leaving the weep holes and the inside of the track uncaulked.
Watch it done
- The floor stays dry after a shower
- The fin touches the curb along its length
- The door closes without dragging
Still wet at a corner? Replace the side seals and check the outside caulk.
If it's the caulk or the valve
If the caulk inside the tub or shower is moldy or cracked, see the guide for recaulking a bathtub.
If the shower is dripping after it's turned off, see the guide for a shower faucet that keeps dripping.
What a pro typically charges (a rough estimate; prices vary by area): A glass or handyman visit typically runs $100–$250 to replace sweeps and seals, and more if the door has to be rehung or the frame reset.
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Shower door leak questions
Why is my shower door leaking at the bottom?
Usually the bottom sweep is worn, torn or missing, so its fin no longer touches the curb. Corners and clogged track weep holes are the next suspects.
How do I replace a shower door sweep?
Measure the glass thickness and door width, slide the old sweep off, cut a new one to length, and slide it on with the fin angled toward the shower.
Which way does a shower door sweep go?
The fin angles in, toward the inside of the shower, so it pushes water back in.
What size shower door sweep do I need?
One made for your glass thickness, often 1/4, 5/16, 3/8 or 1/2 inch, and at least as long as the door is wide.
Should I caulk inside the shower door track?
No. Caulk the outside where the frame meets the tub or curb, and keep the inside of the track and its weep holes open so water drains back in.