Shower drips only at night

Quick Answer:

If you hear a drip only when the house is quiet, test it with a dry cup or towel under the showerhead overnight. If water collects, try to determine whether it drips steadily regardless of recent use or only after someone used the shower earlier. That information tells you whether it’s a plumbing leak that needs repair or a leftover-pressure issue that may be easier to fix.

Why This Happens

Night-only dripping often appears worse because the house is quiet and you notice small sounds. The actual causes include:

• Residual pressure in the pipes or a slowly leaking cartridge/valve that releases drops later when flow stops.
• A loose or worn showerhead or internal seals that let a small amount of water escape slowly.
• Thermal contraction or settling that changes pressure after hot water use, causing delayed drips.
• Plumbing work or recent service that left a part not tightened—see Dripping after installing new valve if you recently had work done.
• Damage from winterizing or thawing processes; some homes show a late-night drip after seasonal plumbing changes — see Drip worsens after winterization.

Step-by-Step What to Do

1. Confirm the drip overnight

Place a dry cup or towel directly under the showerhead before bedtime and check it first thing in the morning. A towel will show wet streaks; a cup will collect measurable drops. This confirms whether water is actually leaving the fixture when you’re not using it.

2. Determine when the drip happens

Note whether the cup or towel collects water every night, only after the shower was used earlier in the day, or after hot-water use. Tests to try:

• Leave the cup overnight after not using the shower all day. If it still collects water, the leak is independent of recent use.
• Use the shower, wait an hour, then set the cup for several hours. If drips start only after recent use, the problem may be residual pressure or a failing cartridge.

3. Check simple visible parts

With the water off, look for obvious issues you can safely see:

• Is the showerhead threaded tightly? A loose head can allow slow leaks.
• Is there corrosion or mineral buildup around the face or seams?
• Is the tub spout or diverter dripping when the shower is off?

4. Isolate supply and observe

If you’re comfortable, turn off the shower’s shutoff (if your valve has one) or the home’s main briefly and see whether the drip stops. If the drip stops when water is shut off, it’s coming from pressurized plumbing. If it continues, the water may be collecting and releasing from somewhere else—call a pro.

5. Record what you find and act

Write down whether the drip is steady, only after use, or varies with hot-water cycles. A steady drip when the system is idle usually points to a worn valve or cartridge. If the drip only follows recent use, a cartridge or diverter is a likely cause. Use this information when contacting a plumber.

What Not to Do

• Don’t dismiss night-only dripping as “maybe condensation”—confirm it with a cup or towel so you know whether water is actually coming from the plumbing.
• Don’t keep tightening parts without turning off water or without knowing what you’re doing; that can damage threads and seals.
• Don’t ignore confirmed dripping. If it’s true dripping, a plumber is appropriate rather than waiting for it to get worse.
• Don’t attempt complex valve replacement if you lack plumbing experience; incorrect reassembly can cause bigger leaks.

When to Call a Professional

Call a plumber if:

• You confirm dripping overnight and can’t find a simple loose part to tighten.
• The drip continues after you isolate the supply or follows hot-water use in a way that suggests a worn cartridge.
• You find signs of water damage, staining, or mold near the shower that could indicate a longer-term leak.

Give the plumber the testing notes (cup/towel result, timing, whether it follows recent use). That helps them diagnose faster.

Safety Notes

• Turn off the water supply before disassembling fixtures. If you don’t have shutoffs at the fixture, turn off the main supply.
• Avoid electrical contact when working near wet walls or light fixtures; water and electricity are dangerous together.
• If you see active dripping into hidden spaces (behind tiles or under the floor), stop and call a professional to avoid causing more water damage.

Common Homeowner Questions

• Is a single nightly drip urgent?
  Short answer: Confirm it; a single small drip isn’t an emergency but it can waste water and lead to damage over time.
• Can I stop the drip myself?
  Short answer: If it’s a loose showerhead or visible seal, you may tighten or replace parts; otherwise get a plumber.
• Will turning off the main help diagnose it?
  Short answer: Yes—if the drip stops with the main off it confirms the source is pressurized plumbing and not condensation or a trapped reservoir.