As the summer heats up in Minneapolis, it’s time to reach for a cool drink. And we are really fussy about the temperature. In a new consumer survey conducted for appliance maker Bosch, over half of all respondents said they will not drink water unless it’s cold. Lots of people notice that if they don’t have ice on hand, they simply drink less water.
Between eating out and home, Americans use over 400 pounds of ice per year. And we expect ice every time we open the fridge- more than 3/4 of modern kitchens include either a freestanding or integrated ice maker. Unfortunately, convenience comes with a cost. These appliances require some maintenance: descaling, changing filters, maintaining supply lines.
Ice makers can cause problems for your kitchen. If the entire fridge loses power, your ice and food can melt onto the floor. If the water line gets crimped or broken, clean water can flood from behind the unit. Or, if your dogs and kids decide to help themselves, all the extra pieces can get lost under the fridge or baseboards. And excess water can cause damage to your kitchen.
The amount of damage to floors from a refrigerator leak will depend on many factors: amount of water, length of time before it was noticed, type of flooring materials. The 24Restore team will help you do what is best in your home. Sometimes they can repair, re-stain, or refinish the affected areas so no one can see the damage.
In others cases, the floor and even the subfloor may need to be replaced. For example, linoleum or vinyl tile laid on top of a fiberboard subfloor does not hold up well to high levels of moisture.
If there is enough water flow across the space next to a wooden cabinet, the porous wood or MDF will absorb moisture. It can then swell, crumble, warp, or rot. The water will also fade the finish or make noticeable marks on the cabinet.
Sheetrock strength will degrade if it gets soaked, Baseboards are always at risk when next to standing water. Check for warping or popped nails. Don’t just nail it back– look further for additional damage.
Not only does water cause damage to the building materials, leaks in the kitchen can lead to mold. Since kitchens stay pretty humid, with low light and ventilation in the cabinets and corners, mold can flourish. If you catch the problem immediately, wash the cabinets with white distilled vinegar full-strength and then dry thoroughly to kill spores. If you think it has been damp for more than 24-48 hours, the 24Restore water damage team will take additional steps to keep you home and family safe.
Kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements can all have a water disaster. fWhen you need a partner from the community to help with your mess, 24Restore will respond immediately and arrive within an hour. The team will evaluate the water damage, assess the extent of needed repairs, prepare an accurate estimate and start cleaning up.
When you discover water damage, don’t let it sit overnight or wait to hear from your insurance company. Contact 24Restore, the on-call emergency team is always available.