🚿This DIY Basement Shower Might Win a Darwin Award

The Inspection Insider

The Inside Scoop for Buyers, Sellers, and Realtors

This Week's Inspector Spotlight: A Shower, a Shave, and a Shocking Surprise

🧼 A Blue Tarp and a Dream

What do you get when you combine a blue tarp, a couple of car floor mats, a zip-tied hose, and an exposed electrical outlet?

If you said “a death trap,” you’re not wrong. But technically, it was functioning as a shower. Barely.

As a home inspector, I’ve seen my share of questionable decisions. But this one? This was the kind of DIY project that leaves you wondering how the house didn’t already burn down—or flood—or both.

The 'Unfinished' Basement
The house was a charming 1950s bungalow with a big backyard, original hardwood floors, and loads of potential—realtor code for bring your toolbox and a sense of humor.

Everything seemed fine upstairs. Nothing jumped out as unusual. But then I stepped into the basement, and that’s when things got… creative.

The basement was unfinished. Concrete walls, minimal lighting, and a layout that hadn’t changed in decades. But one corner looked like it had been repurposed. Tucked away near the laundry sink was what can only be described as an attempt at a personal hygiene station.

And by attempt, I mean this person really swung for the fences.

Welcome to Camp Electrocutey
The "shower" setup included the following:

• A blue tarp, stapled and duct-taped to the ceiling beams to form a makeshift shower curtain.

• Two rubber car floor mats as the “non-slip” base—placed right on top of the concrete floor.

• A Shower Head, strategically places right in front of the basement window for light and of course privacy!

• An electrical outlet, located directly inside the shower stall, just above shoulder height, with a two-prong plug-in razor charger dangling from it.

Yes, you read that right. A razor plugged in inside the shower area. Apparently, this homeowner wanted to multitask—shower and shave—and was willing to play a round of “Will It Electrocute Me?” in the process.

The outlet was not GFCI protected. The breaker panel? On the far wall, behind a pile of broken furniture and a dusty treadmill. I started to get the feeling this wasn’t the most safety-conscious household.

Hair-Raising Realization
The buyers followed me down as I made my way through the basement. I motioned toward the corner with my flashlight.

“You guys see what I’m seeing?”

The buyer squinted at the tarp. “Is that… a shower?”

“Well, technically… it’s trying to be a shower.”

I peeled back a corner of the tarp to reveal the outlet, the hose, and a bar of soap sitting in a cracked plastic dish. The floor mats were wet. It had been used recently.

The real estate agent let out a slow exhale and muttered, “Oh boy.”

I carefully backed away. “Let’s just say I wouldn’t recommend testing it out unless you’ve got a rubber suit and a life insurance policy.”

The Lesson Learned
Now, I love a good DIY project. But there’s a line between resourceful and reckless—and this setup pole-vaulted over it.

This story might be funny, but it’s also a good reminder of why home inspections matter. Not everything dangerous is obvious. A room can look harmless until you find out someone built a water feature next to an ungrounded outlet.

If you’re a seller, please don’t leave your mad science experiments behind for the next owner. And if you’re a buyer, this is why you always get a home inspection—even on houses that seem fine at first glance. Because sometimes what’s lurking in the basement isn’t just creepy… it’s conductive.

Pro Tip of the Week

Test Your GFCI Outlets the Right Way

Don’t just press the “Test” button—use a proper GFCI tester! These inexpensive tools plug into the outlet and simulate a ground fault, helping confirm the outlet will trip when it’s supposed to. It’s the only way to be sure your bathroom, kitchen, or garage GFCIs are actually protecting you.

Bonus tip: If the outlet doesn’t trip when tested—replace it immediately. Shocks and water don’t mix.

What’s Coming Next Week?

Some houses just have a smell. This one hit me the second I walked through the door—and it only got worse from there.

Next week’s story is a pungent reminder that when something stinks, there’s always a reason.

Ron Henderson, CMI
Certified Master Inspector

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