The Kitchen

The most important room in the house. We spend so much time on top of the bench but usually our cupboards are full of junk and we cannot see what is happening under the bench. This video will steer you in the right direction on what to look for, small leaks or signs of what could leak in the future. Prevention is better than nothing.

What to check under and around the kitchen bench

Kitchen plumbing is used multiple times every day, which means wear and tear accumulates faster than most areas of the home. Because most of the pipework sits inside cupboards, problems can develop for weeks before they are noticed. Here is what to look for:

• Under sink pipework: clear out the cupboard under the sink and inspect the pipes and fittings. Look for moisture, water stains, rust or any white mineral deposits around joints, which are a sign of a slow drip that has been present for some time.
• Sink waste and trap: run the water and watch how it drains. A slow draining kitchen sink usually means grease, food scraps and soap have built up in the trap. Left long enough, this becomes a full blockage.
• Tap washers and mixer cartridges: a dripping kitchen tap wastes more water than most people realise. If the tap drips after being turned off, the washer or cartridge needs replacing.
• Dishwasher connections: check the water supply hose and drainage hose behind the dishwasher for any signs of moisture or bulging. A dishwasher hose failure can release a large volume of water quickly onto the kitchen floor.