Kitchen water flood damage can be such a stressful inconvenience. In addition to facing an unexpected cleanup project, you might have to deal with insurance, replace an appliance, and repair plumbing, walls, and flooring. You may not even be able to use your kitchen temporarily.
If you find your kitchen flooded, what should you do to minimize damage and get back to normal, if possible? Find out what moves to make right away.
Remove Electrical Water Hazards
Turn off any power and the water source that is causing the flooding. Unplug and remove electrical appliances. Keep power cords out of standing water, and don’t use a ceiling fan if you think the electrical box is wet.
Find and cut off the water source immediately. Know where your water main is located so that you can respond to an emergency more quickly.
Kitchen sink
Food, grease, and other particles can eventually clog the pipes in your kitchen sink, even with a garbage disposal. A clog in the bathroom or another part of the house may also lead to flooding in the kitchen.
When using dishwashers that discharge through a hose connected to the sink, clogged drain pipes can cause a flood. A kitchen flood can also easily happen if someone forgets to turn off the kitchen sink faucet.
Refrigerator
A broken fridge is a common cause of kitchen flooding. The defrost drain could become clogged, backing up the drain hose until a leak forms. A leak may also develop from a broken water line, ice maker line, or around the inlet valve on the back of the refrigerator.
Flooding damage from refrigerator leaks can happen with:
- A defective water tank assembly or filter housing
- Rusty or damaged drain pan
- Disconnected water supply line feeding the ice machine
Dishwasher
Your dishwasher may leak due to a bad inlet valve as well. Also, if the dishwasher pump is not properly sealed, water may escape at the bottom. Cracks, gaps, or leaks in the dishwasher’s tub or door might let water out, too. Other kitchen flood triggers include:
- Overfilling the dishwasher
- Using regular dish soap
- Damage to the unit
Dry Out
Move furniture and other items to a dry place. Use a wet/dry shop vacuum, mops, or towels to remove as much water as possible. Clear out items from vulnerable cabinets, shelves, drawers, and cupboards and keep these spaces open.
Get air circulating throughout the kitchen as soon as possible. Fresh air, air conditioning, or box fans will help evaporate the water. Set up an industrial dehumidifier, which can help keep the evaporated water from seeping back into porous spaces. Your local hardware store may have one available for rent.
Check Your Insurance
Get familiar with what your homeowner’s insurance covers so you’ll know when a flood strikes. Let your insurer know about the event as soon as possible.
The success of your claim will depend on how the damage occurred. Insurance typically does not cover damage from negligence or intentional actions.
Contact a Flood Cleanup Specialist
If you do encounter kitchen water flood damage, act fast. Call a licensed water damage restoration expert to help extract excess water, assess the damage, and provide repair options. Your insurance might pay a restoration service for kitchen flood damage cleanup depending on your policy.
It only takes a day or two for mold to multiply in a flooded kitchen. A water damage restoration team can offer antimicrobial solutions to reduce the risk of mold growth and further damage to your property.