water leak from dishwasher

[Kris]

I just bought a new Champion home a week ago and I ran the dishwasher while at home and didn't notice any problems. Subsequenlty i was gone for four days and came back to find water under my kitchen cabinets, dishwasher, stove and all the way to dining room carpet. There was standing water under dishwasher and stove. They said they fixed it, but what should I worry about in terms of the floor and the wet cabinets and wet carpet? Should I worry about mold and the integrity of the floor and wall? I also saw water all the way back to the drywall. should I worry about water getting on the drywall and possibly under the floor? I am still under warranty

[Sandy McLendon]

Kris:

A lot will depend on what kind of subfloors your MH has. If it has standard particle-board subfloors, there may be hidden damage. Particle board tends to swell and to rot when wet, and your floors may have been wet for four days, a long time. I would not be so worried about sheetrock mould as I would be subfloor damage.

It is possible that you will NOT have trouble, or just minor trouble. If you have OSB or plywood floors, they're not nearly so prone to water damage.

But at this point, I would get a MH repairman out to look at the place, and if he finds subfloor damage, I suggest you lean on the dealer and Champion very hard while you have warranty. If they are not cooperative, your state's consumer affairs office should have a complaint/investigation process for you to follow. HUD also has that available. However, before you go to either your state or to HUD, you need to be able to document a good-faith effort to get redress from your dealer and/or manufacturer.

Get the MH repairman's opinion in writing. As you talk with your dealer or Champion, note every call- the number you called, who you spoke with (by first and last name), their position, and what was said, both by you and them, even the time of day. Also keep copies of every letter you send, if any.

If there is subfloor damage, it should be an open-and-shut case of a defect under warranty, and hopefully it will be treated that way. That dishwasher was supposed to be hooked up tightly and correctly, and checked again by the setup crew to be sure no leaks had developed in transit. Somebody goofed, big-time.