Even a small leak in your kitchen can lead to serious water damage. If the damage isn’t repaired, mold growth may also develop. You can reduce the risks of water damage if you know how moisture exposure commonly occurs in most kitchens.
Regularly checking for leaks and moisture exposure in five common areas can ensure you’ll be better prepared to prevent water damage.
- Plumbing Leaks
The most likely cause of water damage in your kitchen is a leaking pipe beneath your sink. Over time, the seals at the joints in the plumbing can degrade, allowing water to escape as it’s flushed through your plumbing system. Another way that plumbing can leak is by causing the pipe to rust in the elbow where water tends to pool.
If you don’t spot the leak right away, your plumbing pipes can rust and create a bigger problem. As the water leaks, it can damage your cabinetry, walls, or flooring. You can avoid this type of widespread damage by having the plumbing system repaired promptly.
- Faucet Leaks
As you use your kitchen faucet, pay attention to the areas around the hot and cold handles as well as around the faucet itself. There are seals in these parts that keep the water from leaking as you use your kitchen sink. Over time, a seal can break or loosen, leading to a faucet that leaks water onto your countertop or into your sink.
This is an issue that a professional can easily repair. You’ll only need to have the seal replaced to eliminate the leak. If you don’t correct the problem right away, your countertop or the wall behind the sink may suffer water damage.
In this situation, a restoration service can remove the water-damaged materials and replace them before mold growth occurs.
- Refrigerator and Freezer Leaks
There’s a drip pan beneath your refrigerator at the back of the unit. This pan collects condensation that’s produced by the freezer through its normal operation. Make sure to check the drip pan from time to time to make sure it isn’t full. If there’s a problem with the appliance, more condensation may lead to an overflowing drip pan.
If you notice water pooling around your refrigerator, check the drip pan and empty it immediately. Depending on how long water has been leaking, your kitchen flooring may have suffered damage. A water damage restoration service can clear away damaged flooring and inspect for more extensive damage.
- Loose Dishwasher Connections
When you buy a new dishwasher, it can be a good idea to have a plumber connect it and install it in your kitchen. This will prevent loose connections from causing water leaks behind the appliance. Keep an eye out for leaking around the base of the dishwasher, since the connections can loosen over time.
If you do notice water leaking from beneath the dishwasher, stop using it immediately. You probably need water damage restoration if water has been leaking for an extended period. After a water cleanup service has restored the area to its original condition, check the quality of the hoses on the dishwasher. You may need to replace them.
- Faulty Garbage Disposal
A garbage disposal includes the primary unit, which is in the cabinet beneath your sink. When this unit gets older, it may start leaking water. Unfortunately, this water will be dirty, and the leak may let food scraps flood your bottom cabinets as well. This can create a big mess, and it’s unlikely that it can go unnoticed for long.
If you don’t notice a garbage disposal leak right away, you may have bigger problems than water damage. Food scraps can leave stains, fungi, and foul odors behind.
A water cleanup company can help you clear up this type of mess to eliminate the contamination and accompanying odors. A thorough cleanup will keep your kitchen from suffering additional damage while preventing exposure to harmful bacteria and fungi.
Check Often for Water Exposure
Even if you live in a newer home, plumbing issues and other problems can develop without warning. Periodically, you should inspect common problem areas to ensure you don’t have water leaks and damage.
If you do spot a leak or damage, you can call for professional help. Scheduling expert water damage cleanup services can help you stop the damage from spreading to other parts of your home.