Dishwasher Leak Water Damage in Hull

Why dishwasher leaks get missed

The machine sits behind a kickboard with the water supply and waste pipe tucked out of sight. A worn door seal, a loose waste connection at the sink trap or a split supply hose can drip for a long time before anyone notices a warped plinth, a lifting floor tile or a musty smell under the sink.

Signs to look for

• A swollen or peeling kickboard in front of or next to the dishwasher.
• Floor tiles, vinyl or laminate lifting near the machine.
• A damp or musty smell from the sink cupboard.
• Water in the tray under the machine, if it has one, after a cycle.
• Mould on the back of the base units.

What we do

1. Pull the plinths and, where needed, the machine, and take moisture readings under the units and along the walls.
2. Lift flooring that has trapped water, particularly laminate and vinyl over a concrete floor.
3. Dry the floor and walls with dehumidifiers and air movers, including under the base units.
4. Photograph swollen chipboard and damaged flooring before it's replaced, for your insurer.

In many Hull terraces the kitchen is in a back extension on a solid concrete floor. Concrete holds a lot of water and gives it up slowly, so we measure the slab, not just the surface, before new flooring goes down.

Sudden or gradual

This matters for insurance. A hose that bursts is a sudden escape of water and normally covered. A seal that has leaked for months, rotting the floor, is usually treated as gradual damage or wear and tear and excluded. If you're not sure how long it's been leaking, say so honestly and let the evidence speak. Photos, readings and the failed part help. See what home insurance covers.

To see what a leak like this usually costs to put right, and what you'd pay after your excess, use our water damage cost estimator.