While any issue with your home is frustrating, water damage can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare. It can lead to costly repairs and, even worse, it can cause health issues due to mold growth. Unfortunately, water damage often happens behind walls and is not visible to the naked eye, so it’s not easy to catch right away. Because of this, knowing the signs of water damage behind shower walls can help you address the issue quickly before it gets out of hand.

1. Discolored Walls

Are the parts of your bathroom walls surrounding your shower discolored? This is one of the primary and most noticeable signs of water damage. Water can seep through walls and cause paint to bubble, peel, or discolor.

2. Moisture or Dampness

Yes, the inside of the shower is supposed to get wet, but it’s not good when moisture is behind or around it. If the area around your shower looks and/or feels wet, this should raise a red flag.

3. A Musty Smell

Even if you can’t see any signs of water damage, you might smell it. If you catch a whiff of a musty, moldy smell in your bathroom, especially around your shower, this could indicate there is water damage.

4. Loose Tiles

Are your shower walls tiled? If water is getting behind them, you might start dealing with damaged or loose tiles. While it may upset you to do so, it’s smart to remove the loose tiles to see what’s going on behind them and determine if there’s an issue.

Action & Prevention

If you suspect water damage, you should take action immediately. The best way to do this is to call a professional to take a look. They will be able to assess the damage and provide you with a plan of action. In the meantime, you should take steps to reduce the amount of moisture in the air. This includes using a ceiling fan or dehumidifier and running the air conditioner to help keep the air dry. You should also open windows regularly to increase air circulation and reduce humidity levels.

Update Your Shower With Tundraland

If the water damage behind your shower is enough to warrant a remodel, turn to Tundraland for the right upgrade. We install top-quality shower systems that are crafted from premium nonporous acrylic infused with silver ions, making them resistant to the growth of mold, mildew, and bacteria. What’s more, our showers can be completely customized with an array of aesthetic and functional features, including safety and accessibility options like grab bars and seating. And while we believe in the quality of our shower systems and our installations, we provide added peace of mind by protecting them with a limited lifetime warranty against defects in material and workmanship.

Reach out to Tundraland the next time you find yourself in need of a shower remodel. We proudly offer these services to homeowners in Wisconsin and Minnesota. We’ll start the process with a complimentary in-home consultation.