Flooded Kitchen: What To Do

A flooded kitchen is a homeowner’s nightmare since it typically results in expensive water damage. Widespread mold growth, damaged wiring and appliances, and discoloration on your walls and kitchen cabinets are only some side effects of untreated water damage. If you are experiencing a kitchen flood, you must take quick and decisive action to ensure your physical safety and your home’s structural integrity.

what to do flooded kitchen

Get a Quote

For a quote, fill out the info below, or call us 24/7 at (512) 698-8444

Get a Quote

Safety First: Stop the Leak and Shut Off the Power

Your first step is to locate the origin of the leakage and shut it off. Check your faucet, air conditioning system, and water purifier filters for leaks. It would be best if you also examined the following:

  • Under and around the dishwasher. You may need to remove the screws to pull it out.
  • Under and around the kitchen sink.
  • Behind your refrigerator, if it has a built-in ice maker or water dispenser.
  • All other water sources.

If you cannot pinpoint where the water leak is coming from, stop the water line in your kitchen by using the master water shut-off valve. Depending on your type of valve, shutting it off may be as simple as turning the handle clockwise until the water stops. You may need to contact a plumber if you cannot control the water leak, especially if you are dealing with a broken pipe.

Once you stop the water leaking onto your kitchen floor, immediately turn off your power. Mixing electricity and flood water increases the risk of electrocution. You will also need to turn off your gas supply since water on your kitchen floor can negatively affect your gas stove.

A restoration professional will tell you when it is safe to turn your power on again. If you notice sparking or smell gas at any time, leave your home and call the fire department immediately. Wait for the fire department’s all-clear to reenter your home.

How to Dry a Flooded Kitchen

Begin the drying process by removing your carpeting, furniture, groceries, appliances, and personal items from the room. If your kitchen table and chairs are wooden, they could be susceptible to water damage from moisture traveling upwards into the wood. You have a better chance of preserving your kitchen belongings if you wipe them down and store them in a well-ventilated area to dry.

Once your belongings are out, start mopping your floor and laying down towels. The towels will help soak up the excess water on the floor. Remember to pay special attention to drying your appliances and wall sockets to avoid a fire hazard.

For a minor water leak with little to no water damage, you can finish the drying process by keeping your kitchen cabinets open and going over your kitchen floor with a wet-dry vacuum, a dehumidifier, and some high-powered fans. To save your floor from mold growth, set up the fans in the four corners of your kitchen. This fan arrangement will create cross-currents for a quicker drying time.

If it is cool outside, you can also open your windows to lessen the humidity in the room. Run your HVAC only if you are sure you do not have mold growth. Your flooded kitchen may take a couple of days to dry thoroughly.

What to Do if You Have Water Damage

Salvaging your kitchen from significant water damage requires professional cleaning services and a qualified maintenance specialist. Contact your insurance company to have an adjuster examine the severity of the damage. Depending on your homeowner’s insurance, your insurance company may help cover the repair costs.

Take photos and videos of the water damage immediately following the flooding and throughout the restoration process. Your homeowner’s insurance may use them to assess the situation. Your photos may also function as evidence in case of resulting issues in the future.

Contact a Water Damage Restoration Company

If left unchecked, flood damage rapidly leads to mold buildup. It only takes 24 to 48 hours after a kitchen flood for mold damage to set in. Act quickly to save your kitchen floor from buckling, and contact a water damage restoration company.

A flood restoration professional will ensure that your flooded kitchen is clear of any standing water. Professionals come with expert advice and advanced equipment, such as heavy-duty fans and an industrial-strength dehumidifier.

A mold remediation specialist will also identify water damage that is not easily visible, such as trapped moisture. They will assess any bubbling pockets of water in your walls, door frame, ceiling, baseboards, and floor.

A water damage restoration company will replace or repair any parts of your kitchen that have taken damage, including your kitchen cabinets or drywall. Repair specialists can also inspect the safety of your kitchen appliances and approve them for use.

When working with professionals and their moisture detection tools, you guarantee that everything from your laminate floor to your countertops and kitchen cabinets will be water damage-free.

How to Prevent Another Kitchen Flood

Regularly checking your pipes is a solid strategy to prevent more kitchen flooding. Make sure to take extra precautions during cold weather. The influx of colder water can cause your pipes to contract and burst.

Other ways to reduce the risk of kitchen flooding include:

  • Gently clean behind your refrigerator so that you do not upset the water supply line
  • Replacing the plastic water line of your ice maker with copper or steel

If your dishwasher is the leaky culprit, you should reevaluate how much detergent you use. Too much detergent can cause a blockage in the hose. Forgetting to replace your dishwasher’s door gasket, forgoing routine tightening of your dishwasher’s door, and improperly loading the dishes can also cause water leaks.

For the quickest reaction time in case of a flood, store your tools and supplies near your pipes and appliances. You can also invest in water leak detection systems for better peace of mind.

Ultimately, the best way to recover from flooding is to contact the flood restoration professionals at Total Restoration of Texas. We respond quickly and stick with you until we fix your flooded home.

Extremely professional with honest and helpful feedback. Highly recommended!
Daniel G.
They can out right away fixed the water problem and called me with a estimate of the repairs before they started the work. Would recommend due to the quick...
Anthony D.
These guys were awesome! Came out immediately upon our flood and did the needed demo/cleanup.Jason, the owner has been amazing throughout the entire process and Kylie, the office manager was wonderful, kind and always quick to respond. I hope not to have to use again :) but would definitely recommend. 10 out of 10!
Meghan M.
These guys were awesome! Came out immediately upon our flood and did the needed demo/cleanup.Jason, the owner has been amazing throughout the entire...
Meghan D.
Ryan was great adressing our concerns. We'd hire him again and recommend to friends and family.
Evelyn V.
I had a pretty sizable leak coming from my primary bathroom upstairs and dripping down into my downstairs living room. I called a few companies, and had...
Brian R.
Total Restoration responded very quickly to our situation. We had a broken water line to a water heater that had been running all night in our guest house. Within and hour - we live outside of the Austin area -of my call Ryan evaluated the situation and called for reinforcements. Great communication on every level, and Kylie helped me deal with the insurance company. Hope to never have to use them again, but would in heartbeat if necessary. Highly, recommend!
Catherine C.
Total restoration did a great job on our home. They did prioritize based on the home condition unlike other services. They were fast and very professional...
Veena D.
During the Feb '21 winter freeze, a cap blew off of a pipe in the middle of the night. Within an hour, I awoke to flooding throughout my entire house. I called more water mitigation companies than I can count and ended up on 12 waitlists. Once roads opened up, Total Restoration of Texas was the first company who had the means and the equipment to help. All the others were short-staffed and under-equipped to fill the enormous needs of our community. I got a 9:30 pm text from Kylie, the office manager. She apologized for the late contact and asked if I still need help. (Ummm... Yes, please!) Ryan was out the next day. He managed all of the water mitigation. From the inspection to the demo to the dry out, he was there. They all had to be working 80 hours/week, and they did it all with a smile. Then came insurance. Whew! Kylie handled most of it and let me know when I needed to step in. Boy, she sure knows the ropes when it comes to dealing with insurance! I hope I never have to go through this again, but if I do, Total Restoration of Texas will be the first people I call. They are professional, they took care of my home and belongings, and they took care of me when I needed help with my insurance company. Thank you!
Pamela T.
js_loader

We provide the following from start to finish.

Beyond your walls and ceilings, we’ll also take care of every little thing that matters.

  • Content Inventory, Cleaning, and Storage
  • Electronics Cleaning
  • Furniture Repair
  • Photo / Art Repair and Restoration

We restore flood-damaged homes and offices in these Austin-area communities:

  • Austin
  • Bee Cave
  • Buda
  • Cedar Park
  • Georgetown
  • Kyle
  • Lakeway
  • Leander
  • Lockhart
  • New Braunfels
  • Pflugerville
  • Rollingwood
  • Round Rock
  • San Marcos
  • Sunset Valley
  • West Lake Hills

Water damage? Let us handle the mess.

Drop us a line today or call for a quote!