Signs of water damage in any corner of the house can evoke a sense of worry because of the demanding repairing jobs. One of the most vulnerable spots in this matter can be your kitchen cabinet sitting right down the sink. From mold to rotting, it has to go through all the abuse if neglected for long.

You can save it by waterproofing, which involves caulking the cabinet, the sink area, openings in the water pipes, and more. Are you a DIY enthusiast? You will not have to call your contractor for this. You can handle it. Whether there is a small or significant leakage around the kitchen cabinet, you need to fix it quickly to stop the damage.

Waterproofing activities

Sealing the sink area

The sealant around your old sink can be cracked or old. Remove it with a putty knife or cutting tool. After this, you can wipe the area clean with a dry cloth and bring your silicone sealant to apply in the gap. Before going ahead, check the flow to create a smooth layer. 

The sealer should go into the sink boundary properly. It is necessary to repel water seepage and debris. You can smoothen the surface by gently pressing your putty knife over the sealant and cleaning the excess layer with a wet cloth. Allow it to become dry.

Sealing the cabinets

Before getting going, you have to clean the cabinet of dirt, dust, and grime. The interiors should be spick and span. Your all-purpose cleaner can come in handy for this purpose. You can do this step one day in advance, so the wood gets sufficient time to dry. 

If it is ready, you can apply the wood sealer with a brush on the inside of the cabinet, covering the ceiling, bottom, and sides. Be careful with the corners of the meeting points of the wood to deal with the cracks. After this, you can do this process on the exteriors. The sealant may need 24 hours to dry.

For this kind of work, you get water- and oil-based polyurethane. Since it is about water, going with the oil version can be best. Slow and smooth strokes of the paintbrush can work wonders.

Sealing the gaps in the water pipes

Covering the sink area and cabinet with sealant is not enough. Successful waterproofing endeavors require complete attention. For example, openings around plumbing lines that supply hot and cold water to the sink can also be at risk. These pipes usually sit behind the cabinet. 

If the insulation foam is missing, you can buy a foam sprayer for the lines from an online or local store to fill the holes. It will not allow water to enter the cabinets. It can be 10 to 15 minutes of work. Since sitting on your knees for a long time is not easy, you can wear knee pads for protection.

Signs and causes of moisture in kitchen cabinets

Do you know water leakage in the kitchen can increase your water bill by an additional 10%? While some signs can be easily detectable, others may take time to catch your attention. Nevertheless, you can get rid of the problem quickly by sealing the necessary spaces. Still, it is better to keep an eye on susceptible spots like this regularly. 

To identify it, you can check pipes, hoses, and plumbing under the kitchen sink for moisture. Does this area smell musty? Or, you can come across water stains, dark splotches, discoloration, and other such signals. So, don't overlook them. You don't have to doubt the leak if you find the pool of water under the sink on the cabinet floor.

You may wonder what must have led to this. Well, there can be multiple factors. One of the most critical reasons can be the leaky faucet. If it has become worn out, you can consider a replacement. A home chef usually prefers commercial designs.

You can also rely on it. For an idea, you can take a look at a Kraus sleek-designed pot kitchen faucet. The modern, leak-proof models can give you substantial mental relief. Other sources of concern can be congested or freezing pipes, steam released from cooking, etc.

Since water leaks are a common issue in any household, you always have to stay prepared to tackle this. A busy place like a kitchen can be highly sensitive to this. Hence, inspecting water links from time to time can be a good practice. Anyway, you would want to soak moisture from the kitchen cabinet caused by leakage.

Drying the kitchen cabinet under the sink

Generally, these cabinets have MDF, hardwood, or particleboard surfaces. Minor leaks are easy to resolve than major ones. After leakage, you will want to remove water from the cabinet. For this, you will first have to empty the contents, regardless of whether they are wet or dry. You can keep them on a dry towel to wipe them clean.

Meanwhile, you can take away the door to keep it from hanging open while you attend to other things. If there is plenty of water in the cabinet, you will have to take a large towel. Don't miss the edges when you wipe everything.

Moisture can leave an unpleasant odor and mold in the cabinet. You can spray a deodorizer to get rid of this. Some people trust vinegar solutions for disinfection. On water spots, oxalic acid can work best.

Anyway, you have to remove humidity from the cabinet, and moisture absorbers like dehumidifiers can be impactful. Once you have wiped the floor, ceiling, and boundaries, you can leave the cabinet open to dry. It can take 24 to 48 hours. Finally, you can restore its health with the layer of veneer.

Wooden kitchen cabinets can give the ambiance a touch of luxury and taste. But they demand proper maintenance and care. In your cooking zone, vapor and water are the common elements. These can be harsh on them. Make sure you inspect these pieces of furniture occasionally to keep them safe from any damage.