Where Kitchen Leaks Start
| Source | How it leaks | Where the water goes |
|---|---|---|
| Dishwasher | Supply line, drain hose, door seal or a cracked tub | Under the dishwasher and into the cabinet beside it, then under the floor tile |
| Sink | Drain trap, garbage disposal seal, faucet supply lines | Cabinet floor under the sink, then behind and under neighboring cabinets |
| Refrigerator | Ice maker or water dispenser line behind the fridge | Behind the fridge, under the cabinets and across the floor |
| Reverse osmosis or water softener | Fittings and tubing under the sink | The sink cabinet floor, slowly |
Signs of Water Under Kitchen Cabinets
- The cabinet floor feels soft, swollen or bubbled under the sink
- The toe kick at the bottom of the cabinets is swelling or separating
- Water seeps out from under the dishwasher after a cycle
- Floor tile near the fridge stays damp or the grout darkens
- A musty smell when you open the sink cabinet
- Water stains on the back wall of the cabinet
Cabinet Floor Soft and Swollen: Can It Be Saved?
Most kitchen cabinets are built from particleboard or MDF, which swells permanently once it soaks up water. A cabinet floor that is soft or bubbled usually needs to be replaced or covered with a new panel. The cabinet boxes and doors above it can often be saved if the water is found early and the space underneath is dried quickly. Solid wood cabinets hold up better.
How We Dry Under and Behind Cabinets
- Shut off the source at the dishwasher, sink or fridge supply valve
- Map the wet area with moisture meters and thermal imaging across the floor, cabinets and walls
- Remove the toe kicks so air can reach the hidden space under the cabinets
- Pull out the dishwasher or fridge when water is trapped behind or under it
- Force dry air under the cabinets and into the wall cavity behind them, with dehumidifiers running
- Take readings every day until the cabinet bases, wall and slab are dry
- Document and hand off repairs: cabinet floors, toe kicks or drywall, once dry
If water has soaked under the floor tile too, see water under tile floors.
Dishwasher Leaked Under the Floor: What Now?
Turn off the dishwasher's water supply, usually under the sink, and switch off its breaker. Do not run it again. Water from a dishwasher is grey water because it carries food and detergent, so the area under it needs cleaning and an antimicrobial treatment as well as drying. A dishwasher that leaked under tile often needs to be pulled out so the floor beneath it can dry.
Fridge Water Line Leak Behind the Fridge
Ice maker lines are thin plastic or braided tubes that crack, kink or slip off their fittings, often when the fridge is pushed back after cleaning. Shut off the valve feeding the line, slide the fridge out carefully, and check the wall and the cabinets beside it. These leaks are slow, so water often reaches the cabinets next to the fridge before it is found.
Does Insurance Cover Kitchen Leak Damage?
Sudden water damage from a failed dishwasher, supply line or ice maker line is often covered; the appliance itself usually is not. Slow leaks that went on for weeks are commonly excluded. Photograph the source and the cabinets before anything is removed. See kitchen leak claim tips. This is general information, not insurance advice.
Kitchen Leak Questions
My cabinet floor is soft and swollen. What should I do?
Shut off the water under the sink and call (239) 356-5803. The swollen cabinet floor usually needs replacing, but drying the space underneath quickly can save the rest of the cabinets.
The dishwasher leaked under the floor. What now?
Turn off its water supply and breaker, stop using it and call for drying. The dishwasher often has to be pulled out so the floor under it can dry.
How do I know if the fridge water line is leaking?
Look for damp tile or dark grout in front of or beside the fridge, water stains on the wall behind it, or a musty smell. Slide it out carefully and check the line.
Water Under Your Kitchen Cabinets?
Call (239) 356-5803. We answer 24/7 for kitchen leak drying across Cape Coral, plus North Fort Myers and Fort Myers. Cabinet drying is one part of how we dry homes after any leak.