Shower pan flood testing & inspection
Every hot mop pan we build is water-tested before it's covered, so you, your contractor and the inspector know it holds water before tile goes on.
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The short answer
A flood test proves a shower pan is watertight before it's buried under mortar and tile. The drain is plugged, the pan is filled with water to just below the top of the curb, the water line is marked, and the water is left to stand. If the level holds and nothing shows up below or beside the shower, the pan passes.
How a flood test works
Flood test on a finished hot mop pan, before mortar and tile.- Plug the drain. The drain is sealed with a test plug so water stays in the pan.
- Fill the pan. Water goes in to a level just below the top of the curb, covering the whole floor of the pan.
- Mark the water line. The level is marked so any drop is easy to see.
- Let it stand and check. The water sits for the time the job or inspector calls for, often about a day, while we check the level and the areas below and around the shower.
The test happens on the bare membrane, before the mortar bed and tile. That's the whole point: if anything needs attention, it's found and fixed while it's still easy to reach.
Getting ready for the city inspection
Many building departments want to see the shower pan, often with water in it, before it's covered. Requirements vary from city to city in Orange County, so confirm the details with your building department or your contractor. What we do on our side:
- Build the pan to pass inspection: membrane up the walls above curb height, over the curb and clamped at the drain.
- Flood test it and leave it ready for the inspector when your schedule needs it.
- Coordinate timing with you or your general contractor so the inspection and the tile setter line up.
What a pass tells you, and what it doesn't
A passing flood test tells you the pan held water when it was tested. It doesn't cover what happens later: a drain whose weep holes get blocked, damaged grout, a leaking valve or supply line, or water escaping past a shower door. Those are separate parts of the shower, and they're worth knowing about. Our guide to signs your shower pan is leaking explains how to tell them apart.
Can you flood test an existing, tiled shower?
A true pan flood test is done on the bare membrane. On a finished shower, water poured onto the tile soaks into the grout and mortar bed, so the result is harder to read. If you suspect an existing shower is leaking, call us: we'll talk through what you're seeing and the sensible next step. See shower pan leak repair.
Flood testing across Orange County
We flood test every hot mop pan we build, from Irvine and Tustin to Dana Point, San Clemente and Laguna Niguel. See areas we serve.
Flood test questions
How long does a shower pan flood test take?The water is left to stand for the time the job or the inspector calls for, often about a day. We'll tell you the plan for your shower with your estimate.
How deep is the water in a flood test?The pan is filled to a level just below the top of the curb, so the whole floor of the pan, including the corners and the base of the walls, is under water.
What happens if a pan fails the flood test?We find the problem and fix it, then test again. That's exactly why the test happens before the mortar bed and tile go in.
Does the inspector need to see the water?Often, yes. Many building departments inspect the pan with water in it before tile. Check with your city or contractor, and we'll have the pan ready.
Free estimate
Homeowner, contractor or tile setter: call or send the details and we'll get back to you. Mon–Sat, 8:00–5:00.
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Related
How a shower flood test worksA step-by-step guide for homeowners. Hot mop shower pansWhat's included and how each pan is built. For contractors & tile settersPrep checklist and scheduling.Get your shower pan done right.
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