Some plumbing leaks can develop in easily noticeable places such as the bathroom floor near the toilet or on the area around a faucet. Other leaks, however, are much less easily recognizable. One place that can be more difficult to uncover a leak is under your kitchen sink. Today we’re going to talk about why a leak under your kitchen sink is especially problematic, what can cause such a leak and what you should do if you discover one!
A leak under your kitchen sink can go unnoticed for a while
Think about how often you look at the area under your kitchen sink. You might open the cabinet a few times a day to throw something in the garbage or grab a cleaning product, but it’s usually only for a few seconds and a water leak is probably the last thing on your mind.
Because we often use the area under our kitchen sinks as storage, a water leak can remain hidden behind various household items until it becomes too severe to miss. Often times when a homeowner notices a leak under the kitchen sink, it has already caused some degree of water damage to the cabinet and the area might even have mold growing around it.
What are some of the causes of a link under your kitchen sink?
Leaks can develop in many different plumbing components under your kitchen sink, including:
- Water supply valves and lines. Unlike other plumbing parts under your kitchen sink, the water supply valves and lines are constantly under pressure. If a connection becomes loose or a water line has been punctured, water will leak under your sink even when the faucet is not turned on.
- Handheld sprayer. Leaks can sometimes develop on the water lines for handheld sprayers that are attached to the kitchen sink. If the leak is far enough down the water line, water will drip into the cabinet underneath.
- Drain pipes. If your drain pipes are made of a metal like brass, copper or galvanized steel, they can corrode over time and develop a leak. Connections in drain pipes can also become loose and cause a leak no matter what material they are made of.
- P-trap. If the P-trap under you sink is clogged, it can cause water to build all the way up your drains and create a leak somewhere along the way.
What should you do when you notice a leak under your kitchen sink?
Because of how problematic a leak under your kitchen sink can be, it’s a good idea to occasionally inspect the cabinet under the sink for any signs of water damage. Make sure to remove anything that’s stored in there so that you can uncover leaks that might be hidden.
If you do notice a leak under your kitchen sink, turn off the water supply and contact Cabrillo right away. You’ll want to get this leak taken care of before it causes any further damage to your home.
If you have any questions about a leak under your kitchen sink, or if you’d like a plumbing system serviced or installed in your home, contact Cabrillo, your Bay Area plumbing, heating and air conditioning contractor.