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What to do if…
water is leaking from your shower or bathtub and spreading quickly

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Stop using the shower or bath now. If water continues after the taps are off, or appears to be coming from plumbing, a wall, or the floor, use the home’s main water shutoff only if you already know where it is and can reach it safely.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t run the shower or bath again to test the leak.
  • Don’t use hairdryers, extension cords, or portable electrical devices in the wet area.
  • Don’t touch switches, outlets, or the electrical panel while wet, while standing in water, or if water may have reached them.
  • Don’t stand beneath a ceiling that is sagging or dripping.
  • Don’t treat fresh caulk as an emergency repair. Wait until the source is identified and the area is dry.

What to do now

  1. Make a safe pause. Step out of the wet area, dry your hands and feet, put on dry shoes, and keep other people and pets away.
  2. Stop using the fixture. Turn off the shower or bath taps and watch from a safe place to see whether new water still appears.
  3. Escalate if water continues. If water keeps appearing after the taps are off, or seems to come from plumbing, a wall, or the floor:
    • Use the home’s main water shutoff only if you already know where it is and can reach it safely.
    • If you rent, contact your landlord or property manager as an urgent maintenance issue.
    • If you are in a condo or apartment building, contact building management.
    • If the shutoff is unknown, inaccessible, or will not turn safely, contact an emergency plumber. You can also ask your water utility whether it can help.
  4. Reduce electrical risk.
    • Keep away from outlets, switches, lights, fans, appliances, and the electrical panel if water may have reached them.
    • If electrical circuits or equipment are wet or near water, turn off power at the main breaker or fuse on the service panel only if it is safely reachable from a dry area and you already know how to use it.
    • If reaching the panel would mean entering a wet area, stay out and call a qualified electrician.
    • Do not turn power back on or reuse wet electrical equipment until it has been checked by a qualified electrician.
    • If there is sparking, smoke, or immediate danger, leave the area and call 911.
  5. Limit the spread only if it is safe.
    • Place towels at the shower or tub edge and bathroom doorway.
    • Look at the room below from a safe distance, if there is one.
    • If a ceiling below is sagging or dripping, keep people out from beneath it and tell the landlord, building manager, or plumber.
  6. Start drying after the leak is stopped and electrical safety is established.
    • Remove wet rugs, mats, and stored items from the floor.
    • Open a window or door if safe.
    • Aim to dry wet materials and areas within 24–48 hours to reduce mold-growth risk.
  7. Document the problem only if it is safe. Take a few photos or a short video showing where the water appeared and where it spread. Do not delay safety steps to do this.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide now whether the cause is a door sweep, failed seal, caulk gap, drain issue, cracked pan, or hidden plumbing leak.
  • You do not need to run the shower again to investigate.
  • You do not need to start removing tile, panels, or flooring before the area is safe and the cause has been assessed.

Important reassurance

Water around a shower screen or tub edge can have a simple cause, but a fast-worsening leak deserves a careful pause. Stopping use, checking whether water continues, and escalating promptly if it does are reasonable first steps.

Scope note

These are first steps only. Identifying and repairing the cause may need a plumber, building-maintenance professional, qualified electrician, or water-damage professional.

Important note

This is general information, not plumbing, electrical, legal, insurance, or other professional advice. Keep away from wet electrical equipment and use qualified professionals when water may have reached wiring, outlets, fixtures, or the electrical panel.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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