Help - my kitchen floor has been flooded for 2.5 weeks

SternMusik

Apologies for the long post. I need some advice regarding my kitchen. On the 6th of April I had a new dishwasher delivered and installed by John Lewis. It was a replacement for a model > 12 years old. All went well (as far as I could see), and I am very happy with the dishwasher as such HOWEVER ...

... the installation turned out to be faulty (the problem seems to be the cold water intake hose). Every time the dishwasher (or the washing machine) have been run since then, significant amounts of water have leaked behind the appliances onto the floorboards. The floor covering is vinyl but the water has penetrated behind it and into the chipboard floor underneath. I only notice on Friday evening when I came home to standing water in my kitchen.

My plumber helped me move the appliances and pull back the vinyl - the floorboars underneath are completely soaked, swollen and covered in mould. At a guess, 40% of the kitchen floor is affected. The standing water occured because the floorboards couldn't take any more water. The plumber thinks that the floor will have to come up and be replaced. (There is mould everywhere, it is quite disgusting and causes me breathing difficulties too. There are significant level differences in the floor now as well.)

So, I phoned JL yesterday, and they were very apologetic. They said whatever it takes to put right they will pay for it. My worry is that this could become a very expensive affair. Kitchen units need ripping out, floor taken up, replaced, new floor covering, kitchen reinstated. Now, the kitchen units are really old and will probably not survive being taken out and put back. I am not sure how to approach this. JL didn't particularly insist on sending someone out to have a look, but I am worried that costs will spiral and this will create problems later on. I also haven't notified my home insurance company yet.

So now I am not sure what to do really. Shall I talk to my insurance company, even though I don't intend on claiming (JL should sort it out, really)? What can I realistically expect JL to do and pay for?

I'd be very grateful for any experiences with something like this, and opinions on how best to proceed.

nickj_2

i would contact your insurance company and let them sort it out

Myser

SternMusik wrote: »

On the 6th of April I had a new dishwasher delivered and installed by John Lewis.

My plumber helped me move the appliances and pull back the vinyl - the floorboars underneath are completely soaked, swollen and covered in mould. At a guess, 40% of the kitchen floor is affected.

It is unlikely that the mould and swollen floorboards would have occurred in under a month. You may have had a leak with the previous appliance or from some other pipe.

You should contact your insurance company as nickj mentioned.

SternMusik

Myser wrote: »

It is unlikely that the mould and swollen floorboards would have occurred in under a month. You may have had a leak with the previous appliance or from some other pipe.

You should contact your insurance company as nickj mentioned.

Thanks a lot. However I did check the floor before installation of the dishwasher (so did the JL guys I believe) and it was fine. I am not too surprised about the mould under the kitchen cupboards - warm and wet = problems. Will talk to insurers tomorrow.

Myser

I assume your plumber checked the dishwasher outlet hose and U-bend in the waste pipe (if applicable) for blockages?

SternMusik

Myser wrote: »

I assume your plumber checked the dishwasher outlet hose and U-bend in the waste pipe (if applicable) for blockages?

Yes, the rest is all fine. The leak came from the inlet hose (most likely a faulty hose, or it got damaged in installation).