Hi folks,
Love this site firstly. So helpful for a First time homeowner! Thank you.

So my shower fixture in basement has a rain shower and separate body showers. Turns out it was connected well and was leakin into the wall until the hose broke off during a shower and unloaded water behind the shower in the wall.

The smell of mildew comes out of the shower (has for awhile and we couldn't locate it, but since it broke the answer of the source was revealed).

Now, should I just try and seal up the wall an ignore it or rip the wall and shower apart to see if there's mold or mildew?

Is there anything I can put in the wall (there are two small access panels on the hallway wall behind where the shower is) where I could kind of get in the wall to help? Like a damp rid type product that might absorb the smell? Bleach?

If we do open the wall, what's the best thing to spray in there to stop this and the smell? Bleach?

Thanks for the help. We've owned this place for 3 weeks, obviously installed wrong. I'm so pissed but appreciate the suggestions.

Rob

Any help would be appreciated our seller is coming to look at it tomorrow and I'd really like some inside knowledge before I lose my opportunity to address this on their dime. Thanks

You will need to open up the wall. Do you have access behind shower wall?

There is probably cement board or sheet rock behind it which both can hold moisture and mold. Also need to check 2x4 for water damage. This wasn't opened to dry out so outcome looks dim.

Yes to bleach. But whether to open it all up or not would need more info, including how long the damage has been going on. I would redo it all.

As mentioned, yes to bleach, but only a 10-20% solution of bleach (dilute with water)... anything stronger will not only kill the mold/mildew, but your brain cells as well... especially in coinfined spaces like bathrooms, OK?

Mark

I would rather suggest the mold cleaner at Home Depot, the name excapse me now but it's 30 bucks and it works.

As mentioned, yes to bleach, but only a 10-20% solution of bleach (dilute with water)...anything stronger will not only kill the mold/mildew, but your brain cells as well...especially in coinfined spaces like bathrooms, OK?

Mark

Ok guys! Problem solved! I took the fancy wall lenth shower fixture off and turns out there was only a small hole at the bottom that the hoses came through for it and the leak was in the fixture, not the wall.. so the mildew was only in and around the small hole about an outlet size. So, fixed the hose and sprayed bleach all in the hole and surrounding areas. 2 days later, shower is fixed and no more mildew smell! Thank god!

Glad to hear!