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What is a shower pan?

A shower pan is the water-catching base of a shower, also called a receptor. It may be a preformed unit or a lined, site-built assembly. A preformed pan has sidewalls and a sloped floor; a site-built liner needs watertight testing, so ask which assembly the written bid includes.

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By InstaBids editorial team with AI research agents. Updated

What this means for your home project

  1. Look for loosened finish material at the base of the surround; record it as a possible moisture-wicking symptom to discuss with the installer. Source: U.S. Department of Energy, read 2026-11-02.
  2. Request a written scope naming the flashing and waterproofing planned before the finish surround is installed. Source: U.S. Department of Energy, read 2026-11-02.
  3. Request a plumbing-leak investigation before authorizing shower demolition; ask the reply to state whether plumbing has been ruled out. Source: National Tile Contractors Association / TileLetter, read 2026-11-02.
  4. Ask which liner water-test conditions apply to your site-built shower; compare the proposed test with the cited Macon-Bibb example of water depth, duration and no leakage. Source: Macon-Bibb County, read 2026-11-02.
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What slope does a shower pan need?

Sammamish’s September 2016 guideline, citing the 2015 Uniform Plumbing Code, calls for at least ¼ inch of fall per foot at the subpan, before finish grout. That means the waterproofing support itself slopes toward the drain. This is a local published detail; confirm the applicable edition and assembly with your building department. “Provide a minimum ¼ inch per foot of smooth slope to drain.” Source: City of Sammamish, read 2026-11-02. “This slope must be provided at the subpan level prior to finish grout installation.” Source: City of Sammamish, read 2026-11-02.

What is a shower pan liner test?

It checks whether a site-built shower liner holds water without leaking. Macon-Bibb County’s FAQ, based on the 2018 International Plumbing Code, specifies a plugged drain, at least 2 inches of water and at least 15 minutes without leakage. This local example distinguishes a lined, site-built shower from buying a pre-made unit; ask which test applies to your job. “The test shall have the drain plugged and the liner filled with a minimum of 2” (two inches) of water without leakage for a minimum of 15-minutes.” Source: Macon-Bibb County, read 2026-11-02.

Why is the shower leaking?

A leak during shower use can come from plumbing or damaged waterproofing rather than the pan alone. The National Tile Contractors Association recommends investigating plumbing before demolition. Its diagnostic discussion separates a pan flood test, filled from another water source, from running the showerhead. Ask the installer to identify the leak source before proposing replacement. “Before you tear anything out it may be best to make sure there is not a plumbing leak.” Source: National Tile Contractors Association / TileLetter, read 2026-11-02.

Is water getting under my shower tiles?

Water can get behind shower wall tile through grout joints. For a preformed acrylic pan beside an exterior wall, the DOE guide identifies an unprotected pan-to-backerboard gap as a path to framing and insulation. Backerboard is the panel supporting the tile. Ask the written scope to show how that junction will be waterproofed before the finish is installed. “If the shower pan is located on an exterior wall, the gap between the pan and the backerboard will form a direct path for any water penetrating the grout joints to get to the framing components and insulation (see Figure 4).” Source: U.S. Department of Energy, read 2026-11-02.

Should I caulk these holes / weeps in my shower pan or keep them open?

Keep the pan’s intended weep openings open. These are drainage paths for moisture behind the finish, rather than gaps to fill indiscriminately. In its preformed-acrylic-pan example, the DOE guide says to keep pan weep holes clear of grout. Sammamish’s separate subpan guidance also requires open drain weep holes; confirm which openings your assembly uses. “When installing the tile finish, make certain to keep the weep holes on the shower pan clear of grout in order to maintain an exit path for any moisture that penetrates the tile assembly or any water that drains down the backerboard (see Figure 22).” Source: U.S. Department of Energy, read 2026-11-02. “Weep holes must be kept open.” Source: City of Sammamish, read 2026-11-02.

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