An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Prevent water damage in your kitchen!
Keeping your home and kitchen free of water damage is simple and straightforward as long as you know what maintenance steps to regularly perform to prevent water damage. First, one of best and easiest things to do to keep up on the condition of your kitchen is to regularly check for any leaking pipes or dripping water within the kitchen. You can do a quick check of your kitchen by looking for signs or moisture or water damage in the following places; around the sink, under the dishwasher, and under the refrigerator.
First, check underneath the sink. The sink and surrounding countertop commonly suffer from water damage since they are exposed to water several times a day. Take everything out of the cupboard beneath the sink and look for any water that is leaking or dripping from the pipes. Lightly stained marks are often evidence of water damage; just because there is not actually water under the sink does not mean that you do not have leaking pipes. If you have a leaking pipe or a broken pipe, you should fix it immediately. With any water damage problem, the best thing you can do is dry that area out immediately to prevent long term damage. Also, check out the countertops. Water can sometimes leak underneath tiling, ruining the countertops underneath if there is cracked grout.
Next, check under the dishwasher. Sometimes the filter of the dishwasher can become plugged and backed up, and if this happens, you need to get the filter replaced immediately. Look behind and underneath the dishwasher for any signs of leaking. Water leaking under your dishwasher can get into your flooring and ruin it. If there is any staining, warping of your flooring, it might be because of water leaking from the dishwasher.
You also need to check underneath and behind the refrigerator. Most people do not think of the refrigerator as an appliance that can cause water damage, but it can. Just checking for moisture behind your refrigerator every once and awhile can ensure you that everything is working properly. If there is a leak or some moisture, call a repairman immediately. Sometimes it is the refrigerator's icemaker that causes the problem, so check those hoses for leaks. For both the dishwasher and the refrigerator, it is a good idea to get steel-braided hoses to connect to the water supply, since they are stronger and less likely to leak.
