Water Heater and Appliance Leak Damage
Water heaters, washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators and AC drain lines can leak for days before anyone notices. Cleanup removes the water and dries floors, cabinets and walls.
Appliance leak water damage is damage caused by water heaters, washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerator ice makers and AC condensate lines. These leaks often start slowly behind or under the appliance, so water spreads under flooring and into cabinets before it is seen.
Turn off the water valve to the appliance, and for a water heater also turn off the gas or the breaker. Then call to get the floor, cabinets and walls checked with a moisture meter.
Common appliance leaks
- Water heaters: tanks rust through at the bottom or relief valves discharge. Many manufacturers rate tank heaters for roughly 8 to 12 years.
- Washing machines: rubber supply hoses crack and burst. Braided steel hoses last longer.
- Dishwashers: door seals, drain hoses and supply lines leak under cabinets.
- Refrigerators: thin plastic ice maker lines split behind the unit.
- AC units: clogged condensate drains overflow from air handlers.
What cleanup includes
- The appliance is shut off and the leak is repaired or the unit replaced.
- Moisture mapping checks under flooring, inside base cabinets and behind walls.
- Water is extracted and toe kicks or cabinet backs may be removed for airflow.
- Floors, subfloors and cabinets are dried and monitored.
- Swollen flooring, baseboards or cabinet panels are replaced.
Insurance often covers the resulting water damage from a sudden appliance failure, but not the appliance itself or damage from a long, slow leak. See the insurance guide.
Need help right now?
Call or send the form. Your request goes to an independent local restoration company that serves your area, and they contact you to set up an inspection and a written estimate.
Call now(940) 274-9880- Free to call or request an estimate
- Independent local restoration companies
- Water removal, drying, mold and repairs
- Photos and drying logs you can share with your insurer
Request a free estimate
Takes about a minute. No cost to request.
Blue Star Water Damage is a free information and referral service, not a restoration contractor. Calls and estimate requests are connected to independent restoration companies that serve your area. Those companies set their own prices and do the work.
From first call to finished repairs
The restoration industry follows the IICRC S500 standard for water damage. Here is what that looks like in plain words.
- 01
Call
Tell us what happened and where. We connect you with an available local restoration company that serves your ZIP code.
- 02
Inspect
The crew stops the source, checks for electrical hazards, classifies the water and maps how far moisture has spread with meters and thermal imaging.
- 03
Mitigate
Standing water is extracted, ruined materials are removed and drying equipment is set up. Moisture readings are logged every day.
- 04
Restore
Once materials hit their dry goal, repairs begin: drywall, flooring, paint and anything else the water took out.
- 1First hours
Stop and protect
Water shut off, power checked, valuables moved, photos taken.
- 2Hour 2 to 8
Extract
Pumps and extractors remove standing water from floors and carpet.
- 3Day 1 to 4
Dry and monitor
Air movers and dehumidifiers run while moisture is checked daily.
- 4Day 4 and on
Rebuild
Drywall, floors and finishes are repaired after the dry goal is met.
Where we connect homeowners
Local pages with area facts, common causes and local conditions.
Common questions
What do I do if my water heater is leaking?
Turn off the cold water supply valve on top of the heater, turn off the gas or the breaker, and keep the area clear. Then call a plumber and a restoration company.
Can kitchen cabinets be saved after a dishwasher leak?
Often yes if drying starts quickly. Particle board cabinet bottoms that swell usually need replacing.
Will insurance pay for a new water heater?
Usually not. Policies typically cover the water damage it caused, not the worn-out appliance.
How do I prevent washing machine leaks?
Replace rubber hoses with braided steel ones every few years and turn the valves off when you travel.