# Shower Door Leaking at the Bottom? How to Fix It | IDEAL Shower Doors URL: https://idealshowerdoors.com/store/guide/shower-door-leaking-at-bottom Description: Why glass shower doors leak at the bottom and how to fix it: worn sweeps, the wrong seal for the gap, corner leaks and curb slope. From the frameless shower door installers at IDEAL Shower Doors. Seller: IDEAL Shower Doors, Danvers, MA (https://idealshowerdoors.com/store/) --- Guide # Shower Door Leaking at the Bottom? How to Fix It By the [IDEAL install crew](https://idealshowerdoors.com/) · Frameless glass showers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire since 2014 · Updated 10-15-2026 Water on the bathroom floor almost always comes from one of four places. Find which one first, then the fix is usually a $20–$40 seal you can install in ten minutes. ## 1. Find exactly where the water gets out Dry the floor and the outside of the glass completely. Run the shower for a minute with the door closed, then look for the first drops. Run a dry paper towel along the bottom edge and the corners. Where it gets wet is your leak. ## 2. The four common causes ### A worn, torn or missing bottom sweep The soft fin on a [bottom sweep](https://idealshowerdoors.com/store/c/bottom) hardens and curls after a few years of cleaning products and hot water. If the fin no longer touches the curb, or there is no sweep at all, replace it. For frameless doors we use a bottom wipe with drip rail: [CRL P990WS](https://idealshowerdoors.com/store/p/p990ws) for 3/8" glass, [CRL P912WS](https://idealshowerdoors.com/store/p/p912ws) for 1/2" glass. The drip rail sits on the inside of the shower and sends water running down the glass back into the shower instead of under the door. ### The wrong sweep for the gap Measure the gap between the bottom of the glass and the curb with the door closed. Bottom wipes are made for a range of gaps (the product pages list a suggested gap). A sweep that is too short never touches the curb; one that is too tall drags and gets pushed out of shape. For tighter gaps, a dual-durometer seal like [CRL P880WS](https://idealshowerdoors.com/store/p/p880ws) (3/8") can work better. ### Leaks at the bottom corners The corners are where most "bottom" leaks really are. Water runs down the side of the door and escapes past the end of the sweep. Cut the sweep to the full width of the door, and seal the vertical edge too: an 'H' wipe like [CRL P375HW](https://idealshowerdoors.com/store/p/p375hw) on the door edge where it meets a wall or panel. ### The curb slopes the wrong way A shower curb should slope slightly into the shower. If it is level or slopes out, water that reaches the curb will run out no matter which seal you use. A seal will slow it down; the permanent fix is re-sloping the curb. Check with a level before buying parts. ## 3. Also check - The shower head aimed straight at the door seam. Turning it slightly can stop a leak on its own. - Cracked or missing caulk where a fixed panel meets the curb. - A sliding door? Those use system-specific sweeps, like [CRL P995WS](https://idealshowerdoors.com/store/p/p995ws) for Cambridge and Crescent sliders. ## 4. Once it's dry, look at the glass The bottom of the door is where water sits longest, so it is also where hard water spots and white haze show up first. If the lower part of the glass looks cloudy, the [IDEAL Bath Kit](https://idealshowerdoors.com/store/p/ideal-bath-kit) lifts the spots and haze, then seals the glass with a water-repellent coating so water beads and runs down toward the sweep instead of drying in place. - [Not sure which seal you need? Use our Seal Finder Pick your door, point to where it leaks and we'll show only the seals that fit your glass. Takes about 30 seconds. Start the Seal Finder →](https://idealshowerdoors.com/store/finder) ## Products in this guide - [CRL P990WS Bottom Wipe with Drip Rail for 3/8" Glass 3/8" glass · 95" · 3 colors from $18.90 View](https://idealshowerdoors.com/store/p/p990ws) - [CRL P912WS Bottom Wipe with Drip Rail for 1/2" Glass 1/2" glass · 95" · 2 colors from $21.00 View](https://idealshowerdoors.com/store/p/p912ws) - [CRL P880WS Dual-Durometer Seal & Wipe for 3/8" Glass 3/8" glass · 95" · 2 colors from $16.28 View](https://idealshowerdoors.com/store/p/p880ws) - [CRL P375HW Multi-Purpose 'H' Wipe for 3/8" Glass 3/8" glass · 95" $15.23 View](https://idealshowerdoors.com/store/p/p375hw) - [CRL P995WS Bottom Wipe with Drip Rail, Cambridge & Crescent Sliders (3/8") 3/8" glass · 40" $12.95 View](https://idealshowerdoors.com/store/p/p995ws) - [IDEAL Glass Care IDEAL Bath Kit The same professional-grade system we use on your glass, now packaged for home. In three simple steps it lifts away built-up water spots and cloudy haze, seals the surface with a water-repellent protective coating, and buffs it to a brilliant shine. $64.99$84.99 View](https://idealshowerdoors.com/store/p/ideal-bath-kit) ## Common questions **Why does my shower door leak at the bottom corners?** Water runs down the vertical edge of the door and escapes past the end of the [bottom sweep](https://idealshowerdoors.com/store/c/bottom). Cut the sweep to the full door width and add a vertical seal on the door edge. **How often should a shower door sweep be replaced?** When the fin hardens, curls or no longer touches the curb. In a daily-use shower that is often every few years. **Can I just add silicone under the door?** No. Silicone on the curb stops the door from opening cleanly and does not seal a moving door. Use a sweep sized for the gap. ## More guides [**Leaking on the hinge side or wall** The hinge side has a gap so the door can swing.](https://idealshowerdoors.com/store/guide/shower-door-leaking-hinge-side)[**Shower door won't stay closed** Frameless doors have no latch, so a door that drifts open leaks.](https://idealshowerdoors.com/store/guide/glass-shower-door-wont-stay-closed)[**Gap between door and wall** The gap is on purpose: a glass door needs room to swing without hitting the wall.](https://idealshowerdoors.com/store/guide/gap-between-shower-door-and-wall)[**Drips on the floor when opened** The water clinging to the inside of the glass runs down and off the bottom edge as the door swings out.](https://idealshowerdoors.com/store/guide/shower-door-dripping-on-floor-when-opened)