Sleek, modern kitchens tend to gloss over their soggy sides but make no mistake: this room is chock-full of water hazards. Damp risks come with the territory. “Any kitchen requires an abundant supply of water for cooking and cleaning,” says Brian Rigsby, President, Paul Davis of The Tri State Area – Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. “The bigger and fancier the kitchen – with special equipment like pot fillers and separate ice-makers – the more areas where sneaky leaks can hide.”
Kitchen leaks are particularly troublesome because they rarely appear as tidy puddles in the middle of the floor. Instead, they quietly drip and feed silent damage or they burst catastrophically. Rigsby identified five culprits typically implicated in wet kitchen mayhem. Regular maintenance and occasional inspection are a homeowner’s best defense against wet surprises.
Refrigerator: Nearly 100 percent of Americans own refrigerators. These ubiquitous appliances contain many leak sources: condensation drain blockages in unreachable back panels, water supply line freeze-ups, broken seals, damaged water dispensers and defrosters, defunct evaporation fans and much more. Regular maintenance, repair and vigilance are key to plugging leaks before they become problematic.
Dishwasher: These appliances commonly leak in one of four areas: the door gasket, the water inlet valve, the drain hose and the pump. “Inspect all hoses and connections under the sink, as well as checking beneath the unit at regular intervals.” Maintenance and parts replacement are also important: as with any water-using appliance, supply and drain hoses don’t last forever.
Sinks/Faucets/Garbage disposal: When they choose to drip, fixtures tend to be more organized about it than other kitchen features: check inside kitchen cabinets for leaky valves or seeping pipe junctures. Faucets are not forever items: their working parts may need replacement, though they tend to leak into sinks and cause the most impact on water bills.
“When things go wrong, we do what’s right,” Rigsby concludes, “so if you have a kitchen leak that wreaks havoc on the most important room in the house, call us. Our restoration experts see water damage every day and have the skills to repair your kitchen quickly and professionally.”
