Why do appliance leaks stay hidden for so long?
Because the water runs under the appliance and into the cabinet, where it cannot be seen from the room. The floor surface looks dry while the subfloor and the cabinet base are still wet.
A dishwasher or a refrigerator that sits in a cabinet opening is surrounded by panels and a toe-kick, and the water runs down the back of the unit before it reaches the floor. The first sign may be a smell or a warped cabinet door rather than a puddle.
A homeowner can check the hidden area by pulling the toe-kick board and looking at the subfloor, or by reading the cabinet base with a moisture meter if one is available. A soft patch that is found early is a much smaller job than one found after a season.
Is an appliance leak covered by the homeowner policy?
Often, when the leak is sudden and accidental, but the policy and the insurer decide. Wear, corrosion and a long slow leak are generally treated differently from a hose that fails in a single event.
A standard homeowner policy typically covers a sudden discharge from an appliance, and it generally excludes the cost of repairing the appliance itself and the cost of wear. The Colorado Division of Insurance regulates insurers in Colorado and takes complaints about claims. This page does not describe any particular policy.
Keep the failed hose or part, the photographs and the receipt for the appliance. Those items show when it was installed and what failed, which often decides the claim.
Which parts of the cabinet and floor can be saved?
Solid wood and sealed surfaces can often be dried in place. Particleboard, the toe-kick and any board that has swelled are generally replaced, because they do not return to their original shape.
A solid-wood cabinet door that has been wet at the bottom can often be dried and kept, while a particleboard base that has swelled is usually replaced. The decision is made on the readings and on the condition of the board, and the homeowner is shown the reason for each one.
Vinyl and laminate that have lifted are generally removed at the seams. Tile may be kept if the subfloor is dried and sound, and the grout is checked for water beneath it.
How can a homeowner prevent the next appliance leak?
Replace the rubber supply hoses with braided stainless hoses on a schedule, check the drain hose for kinks, and put a leak sensor on the floor behind the washer.
Braided supply hoses are more resistant to bursting than rubber, and a hose that has been in use for many years should be replaced. A dishwasher drain hose that is kinked or loose can let water out at the connection, and the connection is worth checking every few months.
A simple floor sensor behind the washer or under the refrigerator gives an alarm before the water spreads. It costs little, and it catches the leak that would otherwise run for a long time before it is found.
