Shark Steam Mop Leaking Water? Here is the Solution

A Shark steam mop sanitizes using water only. Although you are using the lowest steam setting and demineralized water, your Shark steam mop is leaking water. Here is why your Shark steam mop is leaking:

Often, the rubber cap of the water tank is cracked or damaged, causing a Shark steam mop to not produce an efficient steam and leak water. Overfilling the tank of a Shark steam mop may also cause it to drip water. Since the cap is not watertight, the liquid may leak out of it.

Avoid this by filling the water tank to the fill line but not above it. Remove water from the tank to stop the leakage. You can also replace the rubber gasket on the tip of the cap, or replace the water tank entirely.

That being said, there are 8 possible reasons why your Shark steam mop is leaking. In this post, we will help you troubleshoot the issue so you do not have to spend more money for a new steam mop.

8 Reasons Why Your Shark Steam Mop is Leaking Water

Here are the 8 reasons why your Shark steam mop is leaking water, explained in greater detail, including each of the solutions. Follow the troubleshooting guide in the correct order to find the solution: 

1. Check for cracks on the water tank and the cap

First and foremost, check both the water tank and the cap for cracks or damage. By far, the most common reason for a leaking Shark steam mop is damaged water tank, especially its cap. 

Remove the water tank from the Shark steam mop and carefully inspect for cracks or leaks on the tank. Do this during daytime or under a bright light because small cracks are often hard to see.

You can also fill the tank with water and see if water is dripping. If water is dripping from a crack on the tank, then there’s no other solution but to replace the water tank with a new one.

Another thing to look at is the cap on the water tank to make sure it is not cracked and that the rubber gasket on the tip of it is still attached to the unit. In some cases, the rubber gasket is still attached, but it is damaged, causing the water tank’s rubber nozzle to fit loosely on the back of the tank.

Make sure the water tank’s rubber nozzle is secured tightly on the back of the tank and placed correctly in the machine. If it is damaged, you can buy Shark steam mop replacement parts at sharkclean.com.

2. The water tank is not seated correctly into the unit

If there is nothing wrong with the water tank, then it may not be installed correctly onto the unit.

Check to make sure the water tank is seated correctly and pushed securely into the Shark steam mop unit. The water tank has to be securely sitting into the steam mop assembly in order to work properly.

If you do not hear the water tank click into place, it can leak excess water onto your floors.

3. A brand new Shark steam mop may have water in the tank

If your Shark steam mop is brand new and you feel like the tank is leaking water, there is nothing to worry about. A brand new Shark steam mop may have a little water in or around the water tank because Shark tests all their steam mops 100% before you buy them, so you get a high-quality steam mop.

Continue using the steam mop normally. In most cases, the excess water should be gone.

4. You are overfilling the tank

Another reason why your Shark steam mop is leaking water is overfilling the tank.

Overfilling the tank of a Shark steam mop may cause the steam mop to drip water when you use it. This is because the cap is not watertight and the liquid may drip out of it. Avoid this by not overfilling the tank.

Each model of Shark steam mop comes with its very own filling flask. It helps you fill the tank with the exact required amount of water. Always use the filling flask to add water into the tank so you don't overfill.

If there is excess water in the tank, please remove the water from the tank to stop the leakage.

5. You are using too high of a steam setting

Check the steam settings (level of steam). Your Shark steam mop may look like it’s leaking. But in reality, your Shark steam mop may just be soaked from using too high of a steam setting.

If your Shark steam mop is set to the highest level of steam, try lowering it to the lowest setting. Often, the excess water on the floor should disappear and you can now use the machine effectively.

If you have been using the lowest steam setting, but the Shark steam mop is still leaking, you may be holding down the trigger longer than needed. Make 3 back and forth strokes and release the trigger.

Remember, the trigger can be pressed intermittently for even less steam. You can always control how steam is released by the machine, so learn to control the steam output with your hand.

6. You are not moving the Shark steam mop while turned on

While not common, a Shark steam mop may appear that it’s leaking by leaving excess water on the floor if you have not been moving it around while the unit is producing steam.

Remember, a Shark steam mop should remain moving while turned on. If the Shark steam mop sits in the same spot for too long, steam will build up, leaving excess water on the floor.

Some people mistakenly think that the excess water is the result of a leaking Shark steam mop. In reality, it is the steam mop leaving water on the floor because it is sitting idle while producing steam.

 7. Shark steam mop pads are soaked and dirty

The mop pad may also get soaked from using too much steam in one area. If the mop pad is soaked and dirty, it won’t be able to absorb effectively, leaving excess water on the floor.

Remember to replace a very wet mop pad with a dry one occasionally while using a Shark steam mop to avoid excess water and streaking on the floor. You should also clean the dirty mop pads.

8. Adding something else other than water in the tank

Last but not least, a Shark steam mop may be leaking because you have been adding something else other than water in the tank for an extended period of time.

What most people don’t realize is that adding chemicals may cause a breakdown of the gasket and/or other parts of the steam mop, or worse, degrade the plastic and rubber components in the steam mop.

It may not happen overnight, but the components of the Shark steam mop may have continued to sustain damage as time goes by, until one day, it has been completely worn down.

Remember, steam mops work best by using water only. If you want to make your steam mop smell nice, you should read our simple guide of what you can and cannot add to a steam mop.

Don’t Hesitate to Contact Shark

If you are still having problems, even after going through the list of possible solutions from the troubleshooting guide above, you should definitely contact Shark.

Most Shark steam mops come with a 5-year limited warranty. If your steam mop is still under warranty, don’t hesitate to make a warranty claim! Thankfully, the Shark customer service is nothing short of amazing.

Conclusion

And there you go, the complete troubleshooting guide for a leaking Shark steam mop. In most cases, a Shark steam mop that is leaking is caused by a crack in the rubber gasket surrounding the water tank’s cap. 

Also, do not overfill the water tank and make sure that the water tank is sitting properly on the unit. If all else fails, contact Shark. They would be more than happy to find a solution for you.

Related articles:

• How to use Shark steam mop
• Shark steam mop troubleshooting guide
• Shark steam mop buyer’s guide
• How to clean Shark steam mop