4 Reasons Water Keeps Pooling In Your Shower (And How To Stop It!)

The following contribution is from another author.

Does your shower turn into a mini swimming pool for your ankles every time you step in it? You’re not alone. It’s a pretty common household problem that most of us have experienced, but figuring out the cause is often easier than you might first think. From blockages to poor design, here are some of the different reasons water keeps pooling in your shower and what you can do about it. 

A Clogged Drain

The most obvious and common cause of your shower water not draining properly is because of a clogged drain. If you see water draining slowly, get that horrid standing water, and even have some bad-smelling odors, then a blocked drain is probably your answer. It’s even more likely to be the cause if you’ve been a bit behind on the cleaning. 

If the blockage is a bit deeper, then you might need some professional drain cleaning. Usually, just removing any hair and debris using a drain snake or hot water should do the trick, but if not, then it might be time to call in the pros.

Shower Tray Design

If you’ve had this issue since day one of having the shower installed, then it’s likely not an issue with the drain but more likely a flaw in the shower tray design. The shower floor should have a slight angle toward the drain to allow water to drain towards it. Water will naturally start collecting at the lowest point. If that’s not the drain, well, the water is going to collect elsewhere. 

You might be able to install shower floor repair products to make the water go in the right direction; however, most likely you’ll need professional retiling or refitting of the shower tray to create more of an angle.

Drain Damage & Collapse

It’s very possible, especially in older properties whose plumbing isn’t up to scratch, that the plumbing has been damaged or completely failed. A damaged pipe can create areas where water and other debris collect, so drainage can eventually slow down, leading to pooling. It is even more likely to be the case if you’ve tried thoroughly cleaning the drain, but the problem hasn’t improved at all – or if other drains (like the sink or toilet) are also experiencing similar issues. 

These issues can be pretty catastrophic, leading to leaks, damp patches and bad smells coming from the house or outside. There’s not much you can do yourself other than call in a professional if you suspect this to be your problem.

Too Much Water

Some more modern, high-flow showerheads can spit out more water than the old drainage system can handle, leading to water building up around your ankles. If the drain is too small, then it can’t take away water at the same rate as the showerhead is producing it, which leads to this pooling. 

You can try to clean out the drain to see if that helps, but it’s just not built for the speed of the showerhead. Your only options are to get a lower flow rate showerhead that’s got a restrictor or to replace the drain so that you get one that can handle more water.

Whilst water pooling in the shower is annoying, it’s usually a fixable problem. For most people, it usually involves a deep clean or DIY, but sometimes you do need to get the professionals in. Either way, there are plenty of ways to handle the problem and being proactive in the future can help to avoid repeat issues.