I had a leak under my kitchen sink while I was gone for several months. There was water under my kitchen sink. The particle board (that is horizontal) inside the cabinet doors got wet for a long period of time. There was a drip that made a puddle accumulate and sit on the particle board for several months. Underneath the particle board is the floor (either concrete or probably a fake wooden floor). I believe that water dripped through the cabinet that hides the kitchen sink plumbing. Should I be very aggressive and get new cabinets so I can clean up any mold from the leak that went unaddressed for six months? Or can I be passive and hope to not get sick from mold?
Could leak cause mold? Particleboard under sink got saturated.
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That's up to you if you want to replace it. But at least make sure you get a fan in there, dry everything up the best you can. A 50/50 solution of bleach and water should take care of any remaining mold.
Fyi, you mentioned particle board, that doesn't hold up too good with water. Once saturated with water it starts to fall apart, warp, etc. after awhile. I don't think you have to run right out and buy a new sink cupboard but maybe the horizontal shelf/base pieces may have to be replaced at some point if it starts to rot through. No biggy. Any home owner can do it. Just a suggestion.
Fyi, you mentioned particle board, that doesn't hold up too good with water. Once saturated with water it starts to fall apart, warp, etc. after awhile. I don't think you have to run right out and buy a new sink cupboard but maybe the horizontal shelf/base pieces may have to be replaced at some point if it starts to rot through. No biggy. Any home owner can do it. Just a suggestion.
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Our biochemist says that under ideal conditions mold can begin forming in as little as 3 days. Only you can tear out enough of the wet structure to determine if there is mold.
Here's one calculator that everybody here could use.
The Drip Calculator.
If you had one faucet leak at 5 drips per minute it could add up to be....
Here's how much water would be wasted (numbers may be rounded):
Drips per day:
7,200
Liters per day:
1
Gallons (US) per day:
0
Gallons (US) per year:
173
https://water.usgs.gov/edu/activity-drip.html
The Drip Calculator.
If you had one faucet leak at 5 drips per minute it could add up to be....
Here's how much water would be wasted (numbers may be rounded):
Drips per day:
7,200
Liters per day:
1
Gallons (US) per day:
0
Gallons (US) per year:
173
https://water.usgs.gov/edu/activity-drip.html
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