Washing Machine and Dishwasher Leaks: What to Do About the Water Damage

Updated October 12, 2026 · 5 min read

Why appliance leaks do more damage than they look

Washers and dishwashers sit in the worst possible spots for a leak. Laundry rooms in many Colorado Springs homes are on the second floor or the main floor right above a finished basement. Dishwashers are tucked between base cabinets with flooring that runs underneath them.

Here is where the water usually goes:

• Under the cabinets. Toe kicks hide water that pools under the cabinet box.
• Under the flooring. Vinyl plank, laminate and tile all let water seep through seams and get trapped on the subfloor.
• Into the room below. Water follows joists and drips through ceiling drywall, light fixtures and HVAC registers.
• Into the walls. Drywall wicks water up from the bottom plate.

Two-story homes in areas like Stetson Hills and Gleneagle often have upstairs laundry rooms, so a washer leak can soak a bedroom ceiling, a living room and a finished basement in one event.

The most common causes

A note on freezing

If your laundry room sits on an exterior wall or over an unheated garage, supply lines and valves in that wall are at risk during a deep cold snap. A frozen line may not leak until it thaws. Our post on frozen pipes and Colorado Springs temperature swings covers the walls to watch.

What to do right now

1. Turn off the water. Close the hot and cold valves behind the washer, or the valve under the kitchen sink for the dishwasher. If those valves will not budge, close the main.
2. Cut the power. Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before you touch it or stand in water near it.
3. Get the water up. Towels, a mop and a wet vac work for small amounts. For a real flood, call for emergency water extraction.
4. Check below. Go downstairs and look at the ceiling under the laundry room or kitchen. Turn off light fixtures if water is dripping through them.
5. Move belongings. Lift rugs, boxes and furniture out of wet areas, and put foil or blocks under furniture legs that have to stay.
6. Document it. Take photos of the appliance, the failed part and all the wet areas before cleanup.
7. Save the broken part. A split hose or cracked fitting can matter for the insurance claim, and for any warranty or manufacturer claim.

How the cleanup usually goes

A local restoration pro will start by mapping the wet area with moisture meters, including the room below. Expect them to:

• Pull out the appliance to inspect the floor and wall behind it.
• Remove toe kicks or drill small holes behind them to dry under cabinets.
• Lift or remove flooring that has water trapped under it.
• Open ceiling drywall below if it is sagging or saturated.
• Set air movers and dehumidifiers and check readings daily.

Most clean-water appliance jobs dry in 3 to 5 days, often on the faster side in our dry air, but floors and cabinets can take longer. Read how long it takes to dry a house for what affects the timeline. If water sat under a floor for days before anyone noticed, the crew will also check for mold.

What drives the cost

The restoration company gives a written figure after inspecting. Factors that change it include:

• Clean supply water vs gray drain water
• How many rooms and floors got wet
• Flooring type: tile, vinyl plank, laminate, hardwood or carpet
• Whether cabinets or countertops need to come out
• Ceiling damage in the room below
• How long the leak ran before it was found
• After-hours response
• Your policy terms and deductible

The page on water damage restoration explains how drying and rebuild fit together on a typical job.

How to prevent the next leak

• Replace rubber washer hoses with braided stainless steel hoses, and replace any hose that shows bulges, cracks or rust at the fittings. Many hose makers suggest replacing them on a regular schedule, so check the packaging or your washer manual.
• Leave space behind the washer so hoses are not kinked against the wall.
• Install a washer pan with a drain, especially for upstairs laundry rooms.
• Add a leak sensor or automatic shutoff valve. Some cut water to the washer or the whole house when they detect water on the floor.
• Turn off washer valves when you leave for a trip. This matters for military families on a PCS move or long TDY. See our post on vacant home water damage during a PCS move.
• Check the dishwasher supply line under the sink a couple of times a year.
• Use only dishwasher detergent in the dishwasher.
• Run the washer and dishwasher while you are home and awake, not overnight or while you are out.

If you are not sure your policy covers appliance leaks, our guide to whether homeowners insurance covers water damage in Colorado breaks down the usual sudden vs gradual distinction.

Sources and official resources

• Contractor license lookup (Pikes Peak Regional Building Department)
• Homeowners insurance help (Colorado Division of Insurance)
• IICRC: restoration industry standards body
• A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home (EPA)