9 Ways to Avoid Laundry Room Water Damage

When people think about their favorite rooms in a home, the laundry room probably isn’t what comes to mind. However, while often overlooked, this room helps to keep our lives running day-to-day.

Your laundry room is where you clean your outfit for tomorrow’s interview, your child’s soccer uniform for the game, your everyday attire, vacation clothes and more. It’s also an area that typically contains multiple water fixtures and sources such as a washing machine, sink, pipes, hoses and sometimes a water heater.

Though water is essential to a well-functioning laundry room, it can cause damage if leaks occur. That’s why regular inspections and maintenance are recommended to quickly address any necessary repairs. Otherwise, the water that should be busy freshening up your wardrobe could be spreading across the floor instead.

Causes of laundry room leaks

To help minimize the risks, it’s important to know how each laundry room component can potentially create a water event in your home.

Washing machines

Your washing machine, usually the main source of water leaks in the laundry room, may be vulnerable in multiple ways. Common reasons for washing machine leaks include:

• Overloading.
• Uneven pedestal or flooring where the machine is placed.
• Clogged drain lines.
• Cracked pipes.
• Corroded water supply lines and connectors.
• Faulty valves.

In front and top loading washing machines, water leaks may occur due to overloading the machine and using too much detergent. An unlevelled base can cause an unbalanced machine that shakes while in use and spills water on the floor.

Sinks

Laundry room sinks, as with kitchen and bathroom sinks, may also be sources of leaks. Faucet leaks are generally caused by improper installation or worn-out parts. However, it’s the pipe underneath the sink that’s a source of potentially serious leaks – usually due to a loose connection, corrosion or a clog.

Pipes

Pipes hidden in walls, cabinet spaces and under floorboards may start leaking long before you detect it. You may not know about it until you see damage to walls, flooring or ceilings. A plumber can pinpoint the exact location of hidden pipe leaks.

Water heaters and expansion tanks

Many homes have laundry rooms in basements or have a combined utility room/laundry room. In these instances, a water heater may also be a source of leaks. It’s important to have your water heater’s anode – a long tube in the center of the tank – inspected by a professional. The anode protects the water heater from corrosion. Once it goes bad, corrosion happens quickly.

Water heater expansion tanks should be checked by a professional for potential corrosion as well. Other typical leak culprits include cracked supply hoses and rusted valves.

Types of laundry room water damage

Whether your laundry room is on the first floor, second floor or basement, water incidents may lead to expensive damage. And water-related home insurance claims can easily reach several thousand dollars or more.1 Some types of damages that may occur from laundry room leaks include:

• Light-brown or beige stains on your walls and/or ceiling.
• Bubbling, peeling and flaking paint.
• Swelling, warping and discoloration of wooden wall cabinets.
• Puffy, sagging walls or ceiling.
• Warped floorboards.
• Broken appliances.
• Electrical issues.
• Mold and mildew.2

To get a sense of the destruction a water event in your laundry room can cause, here’s an illustration of how it could play out in your house:

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