Water damage at home is not a petty matter. Water damage can pose not just structural risks but health risks as well. And there is no area in the house that poses more serious health risks other than the kitchen, the place where food is most often prepared.
Excessive moisture caused by water damage in the kitchen can result to molds that can be transferred from the kitchen tiles to the food that you eat. It is true that the kitchen is cleaned as frequently as it is used, but family members tend to overlook signs of water damage especially if they do not know what these are. Therefore, it is very essential that water damage in the kitchen be prevented at all costs.
Signs of Water Damage
First off, you need to know the different signs of water damage that can occur in the kitchen. Water stains are the most common indicators of water damage. Wherever you find water stains, make sure that you fix the cause of the problem immediately. If you do not repair it promptly, it might cause further unwanted water damage that might cause you a great deal of money in the future.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets might also have water stains at its floors or walls. If water stains are found in the kitchen cabinet, check the sink trap or the sink’s draining system, since this might be the cause of water leakage and subsequent water damage.
Kitchen Floors
There are also structural indicators that serve as signs for water damage, such as the flooring and the drywall. Since wood absorbs water, wooden floorings are not advisable for kitchen floors. Buckling of the floor can be a sign that water is absorbed into the floor. This can be harder to detect if there are carpets on the floor.
High-risk areas for water damage on the kitchen floor include the areas around the dishwasher and the refrigerators, since the water supply and drain lines of these appliances are prone to leakage. You also might want to consider checking the hoses of these appliances and replacing them with a different type as needed.
Drywall
The drywall can also indicate that there is water damage in the kitchen. If it is pretty soft and easily breaks down, then you know that water damage has already started, more so if the area looks a little discolored and even a little swollen.
Roof
Although less common, roof leaks in some areas of the kitchen may be a cause of water damage. These roof leaks are also manifested by water stains on the ceiling. It does not necessarily mean that the water leak is located right above the stain location, since water is capable of traveling inside the ceiling. Roof leaks not only pose hazards for your kitchen but other areas of the house as well.
Kitchen Sink
Learning where moisture tends to accumulate is a valuable knowledge that you can use to prevent water damage in the kitchen. One area that is often exposed to water is the kitchen sink and countertop. Need less to say, they are also the main sources of problems related to water damage in the kitchen.
Regularly check the sink for leak problems. Leak problems signal that there might be drain problems requiring prompt treatment. To check for leak problems in the sink, remove trash cans and other items under the sink and check for drips. Observe also for other problems around the sink, like pipes that drain slowly or a dripping faucet. These problems must be repaired immediately to avoid further water damage. If the sink has some cracked or loose areas, you might want to consider replacing it. This goes the same for cracked tiles and missing grouts on the countertop–fix it as soon as possible to prevent water from lodging into those unwanted fissures.
To check for internal leaks by the sink and countertop, look for dampened or stained walls and floors that are already soft due to excessive moisture. Repair these areas to prevent further water damage from occurring.
Dishwasher
You also need to check your dishwasher frequently, as this can also leak and produce water damage of not promptly fixed. Inspect whether it empties completely or not, if it overflows, or if there are visible signs of water leakage like damp and soft floors and walls. If it does not empty completely after every use, this might be a sign of a clogged filter. In this case, the main filter must be replaced as soon as possible. Also, overflowing of the sink may be caused by dishwasher back-ups due to clogged drain lines, so it is advisable to regularly inspect and clean drain lines.
Inspect for leaks under and around the dishwasher by looking for a visible leak or finding damp, stained, and soft flooring materials and walls around the area. The leak might be caused by an unsealed connection or a leaking water hose that needs to be tightened. You also have to check the hose for any signs of brittleness or leakage. If the damage is severe, you might want to consider installing a steel-braided hose that has a longer life span than an ordinary hose.
Refrigerator
Another appliance in your kitchen that needs to be checked regularly is the refrigerator. The back of the refrigerator warrants some inspection every once in a while, even if it is a hard to reach area. There might be some problems there that might cause water damage, and it is better to prevent it while you still can rather than find irreparable damage afterwards.
To check for water-related problems at the back of the refrigerator, check for any signs of moisture in that area. Let an appliance repair technician fix thee water leaks immediately to avoid further water damage. This might cause molds to thrive, and in some cases, there are already molds at the back of the refrigerator at the time of inspection. In that case, clean the area immediately. Look for other areas that are moist and make the necessary repairs.
The hose connection for the refrigerator’s icemaker must also be regularly checked. Making sure that it does not have any leaks and it is properly attached to the water supply line are simple measures to prevent water damage from occurring. If there are multiple leaks in the hose, you might again want to consider replacing it with a steel-braided hose. Also keep the drain pan of your refrigerator always clean, since it is a good site for mold and bacteria growth.
Cooking Range
You also need to check the cooking range. Although the cooking range makes use of fire and not water, it is still a part of your kitchen that can harbor microorganisms related to water damage. You might be amazed to find signs of moisture and mold infestation at the most unlikely parts of your cooking range.
There are two types of stoves that dictate two ways of checking for water damage. The first type is the portable stove, wherein the best way to check for signs of moisture is to move the stove and inspect the floorings and the walls around it. If the walls and floors are damp, soft, or stained, these might be signs of moisture that prompts for immediate attention. Dry and clean the area, especially if there are molds in it. Another way to check for water damage is to remove the bottom drawer of your stove. This is applicable for the second type of cooking range, which is the fixed type. Again, inspect for sings of moisture and make necessary repairs as needed. Try to find the main source of the problem and fix it.
Exhaust Fans
Lastly, you also need to maintain the exhaust fans in your kitchen. Exhaust fans are necessary parts of the kitchen, in the sense that they maintain low levels of humidity, thereby providing adequate ventilation and smooth circulation of the air around the kitchen. Maintenance of exhaust fans includes cleaning the exhaust filters regularly so as to prevent mold and dust from accumulating. This will also keep the exhaust fans operating well.
Some important tips that you can apply to prevent water damage in your kitchen include unclogging drains, cleaning disposal drains, inspecting the sink every now and then, drying all surfaces after you finish cleaning them, cleaning the area under and around the refrigerator, vacuuming the refrigerator coils, and cleaning the are under the stove.
In summary, the things that you need to do to prevent and repair water damage in your area are as follows:
· Check the sink and countertop for leaks
· Repair cracked tiles on the countertop
· Check the dishwasher for leakage and overflowing problems
· Inspect the hoses used in the dishwasher and refrigerator
· Consider replacing ordinary hoses with steel-braided ones
· Observe for water damage at the back of the refrigerator
· Keep the drain pan of the refrigerator clean
· Check for water damage at the cooking range
· Maintain your kitchen’s exhaust fans
This is short of saying you need to check the whole kitchen for any signs of moisture that might lead to water damage. It might be a tedious task, but definitely worth doing than let water damage start.
