How to Help Avoid Water Damage in Your Kitchen

The kitchen is known as the heart of the home. It’s often where we gather with family and friends to cook, eat, talk and spend time together. It can also be a frequent source of home water damage. And if your kitchen is out of commission due to necessary repairs, it could put life on hold.

Unfortunately, water disasters originating within the home happen more than you may think. According to Travelers claim data, 23% of home damages are caused by non-weather water incidents.** These claims can be expensive too, potentially reaching $10,000 or more.¹

This means water damage in your kitchen may significantly impact your day-to-day life and your finances. But you can help avoid it by understanding where kitchen leaks come from, the types of water damage that can happen and the extent of loss it may cause. 

The main sources of water damage in the kitchen are your sink, refrigerator and dishwasher.  Each of these have water supply lines that can leak, crack or corrode. In addition, dishwashers and sinks have drain lines that could fail, potentially leading to water damage under cabinets, in the floors below or in adjacent rooms.

This is why consistent checkups and any necessary repairs or replacement of your kitchen appliances and plumbing is key. Your homeowners insurance is typically designed to cover water damage situations that were unforeseen and fast-moving. It may not cover some damages that resulted from lack of maintenance or those that were known but not promptly addressed. Speak with your insurance agent to learn more.

Large-scale water events in the kitchen can be caused by minor unchecked plumbing issues that turned into major problems. A kitchen leak may also spread in multiple directions and destroy other house components, areas and items such as:

• Flooring and furnishings.
• Cabinets and cabinet items.
• Kitchen island.
• Appliances and electrical outlets.
• Molding and trim.
• Walls and ceilings.
• Adjacent rooms.
• Lower floors (including a finished basement).
• Personal belongings and valuables.

Water in the home doesn't typically have the same life-threatening impact of a fire, but it can cause similar devastation to your house. And there may be large costs associated with the restoration. Though the cost of repairs can easily reach over $10,000, it could be even higher depending on how much damage occurred.

Beyond the water damage itself, you may also experience a significant disruption to your home life. It’s possible your home could be made uninhabitable, in which case you and your family would need to relocate until the house is repaired and restored.

One thing to remember is that all of this can transpire while simply doing normal daily activities. Here’s an example:

While these types of events take place in many homes, they don’t have to. The good news is scenarios like this can potentially be averted with some basic knowledge, actions and preparation.

Here are some ways you and the members of your household can help avoid water-related incidents before they occur.

1. Regular inspections. Inspect (or ask your plumber to inspect) all water supply lines in your kitchen for cracks or leaks on a regular basis. Additionally, make sure supply lines aren't crimped and that there are no signs of current or past leaking under kitchen appliances. You can also ask your plumber to pull your dishwasher or fridge out in order to inspect their supply lines.
   
   In the area surrounding pipes and plumbing, pay attention to signs of corrosion, cracking, hazing, discoloration, mineral deposits, and dripping or flowing water. And, check supply lines and fittings around areas with plumbing.
   
   
2. Shut-off valve. To help mitigate further damage when a leak has already happened, make sure everyone in the household knows where the main water shut-off valve is located. Having a plan in place can help your family know what to do during a water-related emergency and act quickly.
   
   If everyone in the household will be away for a long time, consider turning off the water supply with the shut-off valve. You may want to consult with a heating professional first to help ensure this won’t compromise other systems in your home. For houses protected by a fire sprinkler system, keep the water supply to this system on.
   
   
3. Water sensors. Water sensors are designed to alert you—via a loud alarm or smartphone alert—to the presence of water in areas where it shouldn’t be. Good locations to place water sensors include areas near your sink, dishwasher and refrigerator (especially those with ice makers and water dispensers).
   
   A “smart” Wi-Fi-enabled water sensor can notify you through your smartphone, which may be handy when you’re away. Some smart sensors can even send alerts to relatives or friends, letting them know there’s a leak.
   
   You can find water sensors and their control modules in home improvement stores or online. Some of these devices work multiple times, while others need to be replaced after one use. If you’re not comfortable installing these devices yourself, you can contact a plumber or contractor for proper installation.

If the kitchen is the heart of the home, then water damage prevention is essential to your home’s health. Being prepared is a great way to help protect against a disaster or stop it from getting worse.

But even with the most proactive steps, water accidents in the home may still occur. That’s why it’s important to have homeowners insurance, which is designed to help cover the costs of water-related losses.

To discover more about safeguarding your house with homeowners insurance, contact your local independent agent, get a quote, or speak with a Travelers representative today.

** Percentages displayed for most common causes of damage are based on total number of Travelers’ personal insurance property claims from July 2016 through December 2020; most expensive causes of damage percentages are based on total payments for those claims.