Hello,
I'm getting a new washer and dishwasher and am concerned about the wood underneath them. If they happen to leak or overflow in the future, the wood floors underneath will be subjected to the water, and mold and mildew could grow, and the wood eventually rot. Can anyone recommend me a good way to protect this wood ?
Thanks.
My sister had a situation where her washing machine was leaking for some undetermined length of time and nobody noticed until it undermined the slab which failed. The damage was so extensive that they had to move out of their house for almost a year while the repairs were made. And to top it off the insurance companies do everything they can to avoid or delay paying. So anyway, learn from her mistake. Take as few chances a possible with piping under pressure and potential water damage.
Correct intalling is the best prevention for water damage. Washers are well known for causing many, many, claims for water damage. The way the hose leading to the washer is constantly pressurized is the problem. It is usually just a length of cheap garden hose.
You want the highest quality install on lines that will be under pressure. Sometimes they use a braided steel line for the final run to the washer. A safety valve which shuts the water on and off in time in time with the washer is the ultimate in safety for your washer. Please check into it.
Dishwashers ususally have solid pipe up to the washer but if yours has a flexible line to the washer then the same principle would apply. This kind of stuff cost significantly more but are worth it in the long run in terms of preventing potentially catastrophic damage.
When I install a dishwasher I caulk between the floor and the cabinets and along the back wall. Theory is that if a leak occurs the water will have to come out the front where it is visible instead of sneaking under the cabinets or down the wall.
Pans are available for washers to catch water and also hoses that shutoff if they burst. You can also install a fancy solenoid device that only allows water to flow if the machine is on.
To protect your floors you need to catch a leak right away. No finish will keep the floors from getting ruined if they are subjected to constant moisture.
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