Preventative Measures to Keep Your Sink From Leaking
We just completed a call here in the Los Angeles area, where a customer contacted us about some water damage that she had under her kitchen cabinet. This came from a previous renter who didn’t notify her about the leak before she moved in.
Here is a real photo of what the kitchen cabinet sink looked like when we arrived:
More times than not, damages like these come from long-occurring leaks that can cause major damage, as well as mold.
Here, at the Twin Plumbers, we strongly recommend to all of our customers that preventative plumbing measures are always the best. When it comes to kitchen sink water damage, there are a few preventative measures that you can take to inhibit water from damaging your cabinet.
First, let’s provide you with the Twin Plumbers’ list of frequent causes of water damage to the inside of a kitchen cabinet that we have seen, so you may inspect yourself:
- Drain connections leak
- Water line leak
- Compromised caulking around the sink & faucet
- Leak dishwasher connections.
- Leak at garbage disposal
- Loose faucet or sprayer
All of these potential causes need to be considered when attempting to locate a water leak that is causing damage. Many property owners look under their sink and see no signs of evident leaks, but water tests have to be run individually to pinpoint the exact source. We have talked about preventative measures, so we would also like to provide you with a few great tips on what you can do to prevent water damage to your cabinets.
Dave’s Tip – I like my customers to inspect their sinks at least once a year while running some water at each side of the sink for a quick inspection. If any plumbing looks like it’s about to leak, repair it quickly or have a professional take a look.
Jim’s Tip – I agree with Dave’s tip, as well, but we also recommend that a water resistant lining should be installed at the bottom of the cabinet. This helps with water absorbing inside the porous materials that typical cabinets are made of.
Dave’s Tip – Investing in a water alarm to place under the sink is always a great investment, this gadget is less than $15 at any local hardware store and is operated by AA batteries.
Jim’s Tip – Use superior plumbing connections under the sink, such as plastic or brass connections, and steel-braided supply lines.
If you have severe water damage, you may want to make a call to your insurance company. Often times, they cover damages in the event of it being a sudden water leak. If not, the most proper way would be to remediate quickly with air movers and dehumidifiers. We were able to save a customer’s cabinet last week in Venice with our dry-down equipment because we arrived quickly and repaired the leak. We immediately placed our drying equipment and extracted the water. This process should be done for 48 to 72 hours.
We sure hope this blog was helpful and was able to educate you about kitchen cabinet water damage. If you need any other assistance, please feel free to contact the Twin Plumbers any time. As always, thank you for reading our blog today!
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