How Long Should Shower Floor Stay Wet?

Bathrooms get wet. But, water standing too long in a bathroom is not good.

It is not always clear how long water should stay on the bathroom floor before you do something about it.

If you have wondered, “How long should a shower floor stay wet,” we are here to answer that question.

We will consider why shower floors may stay wet, how much time it takes for water on a shower floor to cause damage, and the best ways to remove water on a shower floor.

How Long Should Shower Floor Stay Wet?

A shower floor should be wet for no longer than eight hours.

If your shower remains wet longer, you may have a problem. The problem may be a clog, bad sealing, or bad pitching.

Standing shower water can cause long-term issues. You should take steps to correct it fast.

Why Your Shower Floor Is Wet

Water standing too long on a shower floor is a common problem. However, its causes are not always clear.

Water on a shower floor should wash down the drain fast. As a result, the shower should dry within a few hours after showering.

If your shower floor is wet for longer than 8 hours, there may be a problem.

Diagnose what is causing your shower floor to remain wet. This way, you can take steps to remedy the issue.

Drain Clog

Most often, the culprit for a slow-drying shower is a drain clog.

Clogs in your shower drain cause water to leak from the shower floor slower than it should. The result is standing water in the bottom of your shower.

Sealing

Another cause for a shower that is slow to dry is bad sealing. Bad sealing may mean the building contractor didn’t seal your shower properly in the first place. It may also mean your sealing has aged and is no longer good.

Any tile installation should include a complete sealing of surfaces.

Water could seep into your grout if your contractor did not seal the surfaces. Grout can hold moisture hours and even days after your last shower.

If your builder sealed your tile and grout, the problem might be that the sealing has gone bad. This means it is no longer effective because it has aged.

Your sealing may need to be redone if water does not bead up on your grout and tile surfaces.

Pitching

One final cause for standing water in a shower is that your shower or bathtub is not well pitched.

Pitching is slanting tub and shower surfaces so that water runs down the drain where it should.

The water may drain off improperly if your shower or bathtub pitching is wrong (read here if your Bathtub Won’t Drain properly). In addition, you may notice spots or patches around your floor’s surface where water collects and is very slow to dry.

How Long Does It Take for Slow Drying To Cause Damage?

Water damage can occur and spread fast, causing extensive damage to your home.

If water stands too long or leaks from your shower, damage usually begins within the first 24 hours.

If you pour water onto your floor, you will notice that it spreads fast, leaking in every direction.

The same is true when water seeps through surfaces where it should not. This seepage includes surfaces like your bathroom’s grouted floor.

Water can absorb into your floorboards, walls, ceilings, and upholstery.

This spreading water causes surfaces with which it comes in contact to swell, blister, or peel. These signs are often the first indication of damage.

Within one week of water damage, mold can begin to develop. If water damage remains for longer than a week, mold can spread. Spreading mold can cause damage to your home that may need extensive repair.

Mold is a serious issue. If left untreated, mold will compromise the integrity of your home. Mold damage can create sagging, bulging, and breakage.

Furthermore, mold is terrible for your health. Untreated mold in a home can cause significant respiratory problems.

Minor issues like sneezing, coughing, wheezing, and headache can develop. Those with asthma or allergies can even have difficulty breathing and anaphylaxis.

What To Do About a Slow Drying Shower

If your shower takes more than eight hours to dry completely, it’s time to take action to correct the problem.

You do not want to allow permanent damage to your home or health problems resulting from mold growth.

The first step in fixing your slow-drying shower problems is to diagnose the cause.

Once you know what is causing the issue, develop a course of action to correct it.

Clear Drain Clogs

If the problem is a clogged drain, you should first attempt to remove the clog on your own.

Remove the drain cover and look for clogged hair, soap scum, or other debris. Remove what you find.

If you do not see the source of the clog, you will have to go further below the surface.

This point is where you need the help of a drain snake.

If you do not have a drain snake of your own, you can usually rent one from your local hardware store. You can also borrow one from your local tool library.

You can also enlist the help of a professional plumber who will be able to snake your drain.

Seal Your Shower

You will need to reseal your shower surfaces if the problem is bad sealing.

A good shower seal should last about five years. This can vary depending on usage. It might last a much shorter time if your shower sealing was bad to start.

You can seal your shower yourself, but it is usually best to hire a professional for the job.

Re-Pitch Your Shower

If the problem is bad pitching, you need to hire a professional to re-install your shower. They must remove all flooring. They must create a pitched surface. Then they must reinstall any tile or grout.

This solution is more extreme. Therefore, you should only use it if you are certain the problem is bad pitching.

Short-Term Fixes

These permanent solutions should address the problem. But, there are also short-term steps you can take in the meantime. These steps will help you deal with the slow drying problem in your shower.

First, you can push any standing water in your shower down the drain with a good floor blade or squeegee.

Manufacturers design these products to move water well. This means it goes where you want it to go rather than standing on your shower floor.

Second, you can sop up any excess water with towels. This can be a messy, wet way to remove slow-drying water from your shower. But it is a short-term fix until you can develop a more permanent solution.

Finally, you can use fans, heaters, and dehumidifiers to make water dry faster. Fans will blow away and dry excess water. Heaters and dehumidifiers will make it evaporate fast.

Setting up this equipment after each shower can be a pain. But, it’s a helpful solution in the short term until you can get your shower to dry fast for good.

Conclusion

Slow drying showers are a common problem with many potential causes and solutions. Your shower floors should remain wet for no longer than eight hours.

If your shower floors stay wet longer, try to diagnose the problem. Then, fix it before the wetness causes permanent damage to your home.

You will want to develop a long-term solution to your shower wetness problems. But, there are a few short-term fixes you can use in the meantime before you enact a more permanent solution.

Whatever is causing your shower to stay wet too long, follow this guide. It will help you determine how long your shower should stay wet and what you can do about it.