The 5 Main Causes of a Leak Under The Kitchen Sink

10/20/2021 (Permalink)

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A small leak under the kitchen sink can result in severe damages when not caught in time.

The most common service call that the professionals at SERVPRO of South Cobb receive involves water damage. Water damage comes without warning and can cause thousands of dollars worth of property damage. In the following blog post, we will go over the five most common causes of water damages caused by kitchen sinks.

By the end of this blog post, we hope you understand how to prevent a kitchen sink leak by knowing the causes and taking the preventive measures listed at the end of this post. 

Understanding the sign of kitchen sink water damage

A kitchen sink leak can go unnoticed for a long time and become an extensive leak that causes a magnitude of damages. People need to know the signs of a kitchen sink leak. The most common signs include:

• Mud trails in the below kitchen cabinets
• Discoloration on the ceiling below the leak
• Any dampness in the area near the kitchen sink

The 5 Main Causes Of Leak Under The Kitchen Sink

The professionals at SERVPRO of South Cobb have mitigated and restored hundreds of kitchen sink water damages, and the following are the five most common causes for a leak under the kitchen sink.

1) Clogged sink trap

A clogged sink trap can cause water to back up and overflow. A sink trap sits between your sink and drain pipe preventing any large scraps or debris from flowing down into the drain. A leak can happen if debris clogs up your sink trap or if it's just full of hard water deposits that have never been cleaned out.

2) Faucet leak

A faucet leak can cause a leak under the kitchen sink if water is constantly flowing from it. The leak can be caused by a crack in the faucet or a loose handle that isn't clamping down to stop the water flow.

3) Drain leak 

A drain leak can be another reason for the leak under a kitchen sink. A leak can happen if water is constantly flowing down through your drain piping and coming back up through any of the connections in the drain. Drain leaks can also come from faulty caulking around the drain pipes.

4) Cracked pipes

Any cracked kitchen sink pipes can leak water if it's not dealt with promptly.

5) Corroded washers 

Corroded washers are the final reason for a leak under your kitchen sink. Worn-out washers are one of the causes of a leak that can be prevented by changing out the washers every few years to prevent them from rusting or wearing out.

Prevention tips for kitchen sink leaks

Now that you know what causes leaks under the kitchen sink let's go over some prevention tips to keep it from happening.

• Avoid clogged kitchen sink traps by having your drains cleaned regularly or at least once a year. You should also remove any large debris from your sink before letting the water run down the drain.
• Check the handles on your faucets for loose fittings. Tighten up any loose faucet handles by turning them clockwise and ensuring the handle is secure to shut off the water flow.
• Keep an eye on any corroded washers and pipes and replace them before they start to leak.

Final thoughts

We hope that this blog post has taught you how to identify and prevent leaks under the kitchen sink to save yourself some time, money, and hassle. For more tips on leak prevention or mitigation information, be sure to check out our blog.

SERVPRO of South Cobb is a locally-owned and operated restoration company with the training and experience to assist you with any size water damage disaster. Our technicians are certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) in water damage mitigation, construction drying, fire restoration, carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, tile & grout cleaning service, air duct cleaning, mold remediation, and biohazard cleanup.

Call the number above or click here to fill out a contact form today. We'll get in touch with you as soon as possible to schedule an appointment at your convenience.