When it comes to the room where home water damage is most likely to occur, the kitchen actually takes second place. Bathrooms are usually the location of the most damaging water incidents. However, while a toilet overflowing or a shower stall leaking through the ceiling below is hard to miss, kitchen leaks are often concealed and water damage may go unnoticed for some time. Here are typical leaks that cause water damage in the kitchen.
Kitchen Drain
Drain water isn't under pressure but the gradual drip-drip into the cabinet under the sink can trigger water damage, including wood rot and mold growth. The most likely kitchen drain leaks occur around the joint between the sink drainer body and the main drain pipe, or in one of the joints at the u-shaped trap at the lowest point in the drain pipe.
Sink Water Connections
Cold and hot water pipe connections to the sink faucet are under pressure and may leak and cause water damage. These joints can be difficult to see just by glancing into the cabinet below the sink. You may need to lie on your back and use a flashlight to look up into the narrow space where the pipe connections to the faucet are located at the back of the sink.
Disposal Connections
The joint where the large discharge pipe connects to the disposal is subjected to vibration from the disposal motor so leakage may be more likely. A smaller pipe attaching to the side of the disposal conveys drain water from the dishwasher down the sink drain pipe. Leakage from this joint would be most likely during dishwasher operation.
Dishwasher Leaks
Remove the kick plate at the bottom front of the dishwasher and look beneath the unit with a flashlight. Signs of water damage to the floor under the dishwasher may originate from leakage where the clean water supply pipe connects to the water inlet valve on the underside of the unit. Another nearby leak may occur at the joint between the dishwasher drain outlet and the drain pipe that leads up to the sink drain connection.
