Dishwasher Water Damage: Saving Your Kitchen Floor

4/5/2021 (Permalink)

When your dishwasher floods your kitchen and causes water damage in your Connecticut home, SERVPRO of Meriden can help.

Dishwashers are essential to many Central Connecticut homes and make our lives easier every day. Most homeowners use them without giving a second thought to the possibility of the appliance leaking and causing water damage to their kitchen floor.

Unfortunately, if your dishwasher leaks it can quickly cause water to pool on your kitchen floor, leak into the basement, and even damage cabinetry. When it comes to this appliance leaking, you need to take immediate action to prevent the spread of water damage in your home. 

4 Steps to Deal With Dishwasher Water Damage

When dishwashers flood your kitchen or cause water damage to the floor underneath it, there are certain steps you should take to stop the spread of flooding in your home and to properly clean up.

1.  Be aware of potential safety hazards

Whenever there’s a water leak in your Connecticut home, you should make sure to check for any electrical hazards. Always check that water hasn’t damaged any electrical appliances or outlets. If it has or you’re not completely sure, the safest choice is to disconnect the power to your kitchen while cleaning up.

2.  Clean up standing water

Even though the average dishwasher uses about 6 gallons of water per wash, this amount can still cause serious damage to your kitchen flooring. You want to clean up puddles of water as soon as possible to prevent them from seeping under the kitchen flooring, into the subfloor, or even into the room below.

While cleaning, pull out your dishwasher if possible. You don’t want to overlook water damage underneath the dishwasher or the walls and cabinets around it, as this can worsen over time.

3.  Look For Signs of Water Damage

Once you’ve mopped up the water from your dishwasher, it’s likely your job isn’t done. Depending on how long your dishwasher leaked, there may be water damage to the floor underneath it, wall behind it, cabinets, and even the ceiling below your kitchen. 

You should inspect your kitchen cabinetry, flooring, walls, and room below for the following signs of water damage: 

• Bubbling or peeling paint
• Soft or squishy walls
• Bending or buckling flooring
• Drooping ceiling
• Water stains
• Mold growth
• Musty odors

If you find any of the above issues, you must take steps to have the additional areas of damage to be addressed. 

4.  Call A Water Restoration Company in Connecticut for Dishwasher Damage Inspection

If you know that there are additional areas of water damage from the dishwasher or you’re not sure if you’ve dried everything out, you should contact a local water damage restoration company like SERVPRO of Meriden to provide a damage inspection.

SERVPRO of Meriden utilizes advanced moisture detection and drying equipment to measure moisture levels in building materials and restore your home to pre-damage conditions. Companies like SERVPRO can identify all areas of moisture in your home and create a plan to dry your Connecticut property out.

Why Do Dishwashers Leak?

When it comes to dishwashers leaking on to the floor of your kitchen in Connecticut, there’s many possible causes. Try to find the cause of your dishwasher leak by inspecting the following components of your appliance. 

Water Leaking From Front of Dishwasher

If you notice water leaking from the front of the dishwasher, it’s possible that you’re dealing with a leaking door. A leaking dishwasher door can be caused by:

• Faulty door latch
• Door gasket/seal needing replacement
• Using the incorrect dishwasher detergent

Water Leaking Underneath of Dishwasher

If water is pooling underneath your dishwasher, the following may be to blame:

• Corroded or leaking dishwasher tub from soap or old age
• Loose or cracked water supply lines
• Loose or stuck water valves
• Dishwasher isn’t level

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage From Dishwashers?

In most cases, leaking dishwasher water damage should be covered by your insurance company, but you should always double-check your policy before filing a claim to be sure.

So long as the damage from your dishwasher was sudden and unforeseen, meaning that it was a result of mechanical or plumbing issues, the damage should be covered. But, if your insurance adjuster assesses damages and your dishwasher shows signs of neglected maintenance that could've prevented the problem, your claim may end up being denied.

Can Dishwasher Leaks Cause Mold? 

If your dishwasher leaks - especially for a prolonged amount of time - they can cause serious mold growth in the kitchen of your Connecticut home.

Since mold thrives on moisture, a dishwasher leak can cause a serious infestation. Even when there’s only a small leak, consistent moisture will cause mold to grow and spread behind and underneath the dishwasher. 

Need Help With Dishwasher Leak Water Damage Repair in Connecticut? We Can Help.

As a professional water damage restoration service, SERVPRO of Meriden has the experience and resources needed to quickly restore your Connecticut home to pre-damage conditions.

Our team rapidly responds to inspect damages, create a specialized restoration plan, and get to work. Our goal is to make water damage from your dishwasher leak "Like it never even happened."

• Advanced Moisture Detection, Drying and Dehumidification

• We Handle the Insurance Process For You!

• Free Water Damage Repair Estimates

• 24/7 Emergency Services

Call SERVPRO of Meriden For Immediate Assistance - 800-734-3213