Like any other part of your home, your shower door requires regular replacement. If you wait too long, it could create an unsafe environment for your family and guests. Knowing what to look for guarantees you’ll know exactly when it is time for a replacement. Take a moment to read the three signs below to determine if it’s time to swap yours.
1. Water Outside of the Shower
If you notice excess water on your bathroom floor after showering, it could be a red flag that it’s time for a new shower door. Pools of water are more than frustrating, they mean water damage to your floor and potential slips if not cleaned up.
Excess water is usually caused by a poorly fitted shower door. A bad fit could be from long-term repeated use or an indication that it was never the correct size to begin with. Check all sides of the door to ensure that it sits flush in its opening, if it is too large or too small it won’t seal properly. A perfectly fitted door is the only foolproof way to fix this leakage and keep your bathroom floors dry.
2. Discoloration and Stains
A shower door requires periodic cleaning, but over time there are certain visible marks that cannot be wiped away. These stains come from a variety of different sources.
With the presence of constant moisture, mold can grow in your shower. The mold spores will combine with soap scum to create discoloration on the glass door and permanently affect the appearance of the glass. It might look dirty or have a film on the inside, no matter how many times you scrub it. Hard water and heavy minerals can also lead to permanent marks. These show up as water marks on the metal frame of your shower door that are impossible to eliminate.
You may get used to the stains, but the only way to get a sparkling bathroom once again will be to replace your shower door.
3. Physical Damage
The bathroom is one of the most trafficked areas of a home. The wear and tear this creates on a shower door can result in dangerous physical damage, like rusting or chipped glass.
The glass of your shower door can chip and crack with use, resulting in a panel that is loose or shaky within its frame. Even the smallest nick can make it unstable. An unsteady glass panel can easily crack further or fall out of the frame and shatter.
Corrosion is caused by the presence of water. It causes the shower doors metal fixture to rust, leaving brownish-red streaks on the hinges and tracks. Rust can weaken the metal components causing the doors to snap or break easily. If the door is shut too hard or leaned on with excessive pressure, the door may not be able to stay intact.
You don’t want to continue using your shower door if you start seeing these signs. So, if you see these indicators, replacing your shower door will prevent a hazardous environment in your home. If you’re not sure, get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to have a technician come take a look at your shower.
A note from Ron & Deb: