Standing in a flooded kitchen can cause anyone to panic. But don’t let that fear overpower you! Having your kitchen flooded is a more common occurrence than you think.

What causes a flooded kitchen? The kitchen is the area of your house that’s most at risk of flooding due to the kitchen’s multiple fixtures and appliances that are connected to water supply lines.

Here are the common culprits that cause a kitchen flood:

• Refrigerator Ice Maker. Kitchen floods are often caused by a broken refrigerator ice maker water supply line or connection.
• Dishwashers. The thing about dishwashers is that its line may already be in bad shape without you noticing it. When the line is broken, water will leak into the enclosed space underneath the dishwasher.
• Under-Sink Systems. The cabinet beneath your kitchen sink may have water quality or filtration accessories that can leak.

Now that you know the causes, what can you do to fix it? Here are essential steps to take when dealing with a flooded kitchen:

Turn Off the Power & Water

Before you clean up the mess in your kitchen, you need to turn off the power and water first. Make sure your kitchen is safe from any electrical hazards. If the water isn’t coming from outside your kitchen, then it’s crucial that you turn off the water in the entire house to shut off all the water pipes.

Protect Your Furniture

Furniture that is left in water for extended periods can become significantly damaged. Rugs in the kitchen, especially, must be removed quickly to prevent mold growth. Small items can be quickly placed in a box and moved outside of the kitchen. If the flood is rising, take care to remove as much furniture from the kitchen as you can.

Remove Excess Water

Use a mop and a bucket to dry out the floor of your flooded kitchen. Assuming that the flooding is minimal, this is something that’s easily done on your own. However, if there’s too much water to soak up, you may want to call a professional to help you.

Let Air In

Once you’ve removed any excess water, dry the kitchen floor thoroughly as well as the furniture and furnishings by turning on an air conditioner or bringing in an electric fan. It helps to also open all the windows to let air and sunlight in.

Open Cabinets and Drawers

Moisture can easily get trapped in small areas and breed mold and bacteria. To prevent this, once your kitchen has dried, you’ll need to air out your drawers and cabinets, leaving them open for at least a couple hours.

Prevention is Key

Keep in mind that if you notice extensive water damage, don’t attempt to fix it yourself. Instead, let water damage restoration professionals take care of it. Extensive kitchen flooding will require advanced equipment and industry-approved techniques to mitigate the damage The best you can do as a homeowner is to practice preventive maintenance.

Regular maintenance and routine inspections of your plumbing and kitchen appliances should do well to prevent flooding. Drying out a flooded kitchen can be a tedious and stress-inducing process, so for the sake of your well-being, prevent it from happening as much as you can!

We’re a water damage restoration company in Utah, get in touch with us today to see how we can help.