Ignore the little drop under your sink?

A small drip under your kitchen or bathroom sink might not seem like much, especially if it's coming from a drain that leaks only while the faucet is on. But if the problem is an occasional leak from a drain or a slow but steady flow from a water supply line, the end result is dampness under the sink.

If the cabinet under your sink is full of cleaners, there may not be enough air circulation to completely dry the wood. Damp wood can potentially cause big problems. Here are three big reasons why you shouldn't put off fixing the plumbing under your sink until tomorrow, even if the leak seems minor.

Damp wood promotes mold growth

Mold spores float around your home all the time. They usually cause no damage, but when they land on damp wood they begin to thrive and multiply. You will probably notice a musty smell before you see the mold. In fact, you may never notice the mold when you look under the sink.

Mold can grow under the cabinet, behind the wall, and under the floor. In addition to giving your home an unpleasant odor, mold can irritate your respiratory system, especially if you have allergies.

Not all mold is dangerous to black mold, but if you are unlucky enough to have it under your sink, you may need to hire a professional mold remediator. Cleaning up the mold could end up costing you a lot more than a simple plumbing repair.

Insects are attracted to wet conditions

You know you need to keep the crumbs clean and don't leave food out so you don't attract insects, but you may not know that cockroaches are also attracted to water and damp conditions.

When the wood under your sink stays wet, it becomes a haven for cockroaches. All it takes is a few bugs to slip under your door or crawl into your house, and before you know it, you'll have cockroaches in your house. But while cockroaches are an embarrassing nuisance, they don't do as much damage as carpenter ants and termites. These insects actually destroy your home when they move in. They also like damp, rotting wood. If you attract them to your kitchen and they take up residence in your home, you might be looking at expensive pest control treatments and home repairs.

Damp wood degrades slowly

If the plumbing leak lasts long enough, the wood under your sink could start to sag, break and decay. You may need to replace part of the cabinet or, even worse, part of your flooring or subfloor. Water leaks are an enemy of your home. Even a small, innocent drip can cause a lot of damage if it lasts long enough and keeps the cabinet under your sink wet for a long time.

What's worse, the drip could turn into a plumbing emergency if the drip suddenly blossoms into a big leak in a pipe or supply line.

The wood is difficult to dry when it is in a closed cupboard. You will need to actively dry the wood by stopping the leak and ventilating the cabinet with a fan or other means. If you don't check inside the cabinet very often, you may not even be aware of the damaged wood. Needless to say, replacing rotten wood can cost a lot more than replacing a water supply line under the sink.

The good news is that you can avoid costly damage by fixing leaks before they've had a chance to do much damage. The wood will eventually dry out once you stop the water leak. If you live in Richmond and you have a water leak under your kitchen sink, call Local Plumber Richmond for a quick and efficient repair.  

WELCOME TO THE 24-HOUR LOCAL PLUMBER IN RICHMOND. The best plumbing emergency in Richmond VA.

Call Today at (804)461-3472.

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