Close the two small valves under the sink. If water keeps coming, shut the main valve. Then call (413) 603-1274. We fix the pipe and dry the cabinets and floor in one visit.
Common kitchen leaks
- A supply line under the sink that froze and split on an exterior wall
- A failed faucet hose or compression fitting
- A leaking drain trap or garbage disposal
- The dishwasher supply line or drain hose
- The refrigerator ice-maker line behind the fridge
Sinks on outside walls are the ones that freeze. In older Chicopee kitchens the sink often sits under a window on an exterior wall, with little insulation behind the cabinet.
What to do in the next 10 minutes
- Close the fixture valves. Turn both small valves under the sink clockwise. Old ones may not close fully.
- Shut the main if water keeps coming. See how to shut off the main valve.
- Empty the cabinet. Pull everything out and leave the doors open.
- Unplug the dishwasher and disposal if water reached their cords.
- Photograph the cabinet floor, toe kick and any water on the floor.
- Call us. (413) 603-1274.
One call: plumbing fixed, cabinets and floor dried
The visible puddle is the easy part. Water runs under the cabinets, into the toe kicks and down through the subfloor, often into the ceiling below if the kitchen is on an upper floor. We fix the plumbing, then dry where the water actually went.
- Repair the leak. Supply lines, valves, traps and appliance connections.
- Check under the cabinets. Moisture meters find water under toe kicks and flooring.
- Dry without tearing out the kitchen. Where possible we dry under cabinets by removing toe kicks and directing air underneath.
- Check the floor below. In a two- or three-decker, the unit below gets checked too.
- Log readings until dry. Then any swollen panels or flooring can be repaired.
Kitchens upstairs in multi-family homes
A burst under a second- or third-floor kitchen sink in a Chicopee two- or three-decker often shows up first as a stain in the kitchen ceiling below. If you are a tenant, tell the landlord in writing and photograph everything. See ceiling water damage repair and who pays for upstairs water damage.
What kitchen water damage costs
We do not quote blind, because the price depends on what got wet. A split supply line caught in a few minutes may only need the repair and a short dry-out under the sink. A line that ran overnight can soak the cabinet bases, the subfloor and the ceiling below. The main things that change the price:
- How long the water ran before it was shut off
- Whether water got under the cabinets and flooring
- Particleboard cabinets, which swell, versus solid wood, which often dries
- Whether there is a finished ceiling or another unit below
- Where the broken pipe sits: open under the sink or inside the wall
You get the price before work starts. Read what changes the price of a burst pipe repair.
Insurance for a kitchen leak
A pipe that bursts suddenly is usually covered by a homeowners policy, while a slow drip under the sink that went unnoticed for months often is not. Insurers also look at whether the home was heated when a pipe froze. Take photos before anything is removed, keep the broken fitting, and report the loss right away. See burst pipe insurance in Massachusetts. General information only.
Kitchens we work on in Chicopee
We work on kitchens in every part of the city, from the older two- and three-deckers in Willimansett, Chicopee Center and Chicopee Falls to the Capes and ranches in Aldenville, Fairview and Burnett Road, plus nearby towns. See areas we serve.
Can the cabinets be saved?
Often, yes. Solid wood face frames and doors usually dry well. The weak point is the cabinet floor and the toe kick, which in most kitchens are particleboard. Particleboard swells and crumbles once it soaks, and it does not shrink back. If the sink base floor is bubbled or soft, it gets replaced, but the rest of the cabinet run can usually stay. Countertops rarely need to come off for drying when the toe kicks are removed and air is pushed underneath.
Kitchen water damage questions
Do the cabinets have to be replaced?
Not always. Solid wood often dries well. Particleboard that has swollen usually does not recover. Fast drying gives you the best chance of keeping the cabinets.
Why did the pipe under my sink freeze?
The sink is on an exterior wall and the cabinet door was closed, so room heat could not reach the pipe. On very cold nights, open the doors and let the faucet drip.
Is water under the floor a problem if the top looks dry?
Yes. Water trapped under vinyl, laminate or tile does not evaporate and can rot the subfloor. Meters show whether it is there.
Kitchen leak? Call now
Call (413) 603-1274 now. Locally owned in Chicopee, we fix the pipe and dry the kitchen in one call. See all services.