New washing machine has ruined kitchen floor - where do I stand?

Chamone_2

I had a new kitchen installed 2 years ago, with a tile laminate floor and underlay. I had chosen special kitchen flooring so that it was a watertight seal. No problems before or up until a few weeks ago.

I had a new washing machine fitted during the Easter holidays, and a few weeks ago I noticed that the kitchen floor had moved, so that there was a hump formed in the middle of the room. It has got progressively worse and now I can barely open the kitchen door to get in.

There is obviously water under the kitchen floor, as when you press down on one of the moved underlay pieces, dirty brown water seeps out. I've run a few tests by isolating the radiators/dishwasher and I know now that it is definitely the washing machine that appears to be leaking water somewhere underneath the flooring.

Who do I approach about this first? My house insurance or the people that fitted my washing machine?

Esqui

I'd try the fitters first...but it will probably end up as a house insurance job.

peachyprice

That depends whether you want to do it the easy way or the hard way.

Hard way, try to get the installer to accept liability if it's a dodgy install or the place of purchase if it's a faulty machine.

Easy way, go through your house insurance and let them pursue the above.

I personally would go through my insurance, if the water has been leaking for some time it's likely to have effected the walls and and got under floors in other rooms, it's amazing just how far seeping water will travel. I would not trust the intaller to fix the entire problem.

vax2002

What have you done to stop this ?
that will be the first question from any ones lips
Find the washer taps and turn the damn thing off
dont use it until its fixed.
washing machine plumbing is very DIY it wont take long to find the problem

Chamone_2

Thanks folks. I've been away from home for a long time - on holiday and on business since the washing machine was installed, so it's only been used twice. Once when I came back from holiday, and then again when I noticed/tested for the problem and stopped using it.

Will call the home insurers tonight and look at next steps.

kelpie35

The same happened to me a few months back.

It turned out the washer connecting to the pipe had not been put on.

It had been leaking for a few weeks.

My insurance paid for new flooring.

Hope you get it fixed very soon.

gordikin

Chamone wrote: »

Thanks folks. I've been away from home for a long time - on holiday and on business since the washing machine was installed, so it's only been used twice. Once when I came back from holiday, and then again when I noticed/tested for the problem and stopped using it.

Will call the home insurers tonight and look at next steps.

How long at a time have you been away? I think it is quite common for insurance policies to include the condition that the house should not be empty for more than 30 days at a time.

vax2002

You need to isolate the water supply to it, it will have a tap somewhere, turn it off, pull it out and sort it out

Chamone_2

gordikin wrote: »

How long at a time have you been away? I think it is quite common for insurance policies to include the condition that the house should not be empty for more than 30 days at a time.

I have been away for a few week-long business trips, but nothing more than 10 days at a time.