New homeowner seeks advice on damp sink cabinet: 'I would hate to ... let it get worse'

"You may discover you can handle small fixes yourself."

A first-time homeowner asked Reddit for guidance after a musty kitchen cabinet continued to register about 85% humidity even with a small dehumidifier inside.

Several commenters pointed to a low-cost way to pull out moisture and suggested checking for the source before spending money on repairs.

Here's what to know

In the homeowner's Reddit post, the cabinet under the sink showed no visible mold, water beads, or other obvious signs of dampness. Still, leaving the doors shut produced a mildewy odor.

The homeowner said they had already tried a few things, including a compact dehumidifier, occasional use of a space heater, and running the bathroom exhaust fan during showers and for roughly 30 minutes afterward.

With little do-it-yourself experience, the homeowner asked what should be inspected and who should be contacted. "I don't know of any active leaks or anything, but I would hate to ignore this issue and see it snowball," they wrote.

More background

One possibility the homeowner mentioned was a broken garbage disposal. It had not been used for at least six months, aside from a small amount of water going through the connected sink basin, and repair costs had prevented them from fixing it.

TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight

💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all

One commenter said a small crack or a loose clamp in the dishwasher drain hose could be leaking during a cycle. Others advised checking pipe connections and the garbage disposal flange. The homeowner replied that the dishwasher had never been used.

What can be done?

"Put toilet paper under the pipes and disposal. It will show any occasional drips. Fix it once you find the source," one commenter suggested. Another recommended testing the disposal flange and P-trap connections by wrapping them in dry paper towels and checking them after a day.

For a short-term fix, a commenter recommended DampRid or a similar moisture absorber, noting that an Amazon six-pack could cost about $20 and that saturated containers need to be replaced. The idea was to use it as a temporary measure while the homeowner tracked down the source of the moisture.

When it came to hiring help, the same commenter said a handyman might cost less than a licensed plumber if there were no major issues. They also suggested wiping the connections with a dry towel to see whether any moisture was present.

Another commenter pointed the homeowner toward plumbing books with illustrated repair guides. "You might discover you're capable of minor repairs."