Water damage incident report

Summary

An air conditioner leak in the garage introduced gray water that went unnoticed for more than three days, resulting in visible staining, rust on metal cabinet framing, and spotting consistent with mold growth on cabinet backing materials. The floor and cabinet base show clear signs of prolonged moisture exposure, and while the loss appears contained to this one garage, a professional moisture and mold inspection is advisable given the growth and gray-water contact.”, }.setNarrativePlaceholder

Moderate

Assessment confidence: Medium

Photo documentation

5 photos, timestamped at upload · 5 exhibits

Close-up of a built-in garage cabinet base showing a particleboard back panel with dark staining and pooled moisture at the bottom edge, alongside a rusted metal cabinet frame track.

FINDINGS IN THIS PHOTO

• Garage cabinet backing (particleboard/MDF). The cabinet back panel shows dark water staining and standing moisture pooled at its base, consistent with a leak source above.
• Cabinet metal frame. The metal frame and track along the cabinet base show heavy surface rust and flaking corrosion.

Interior corner of a garage cabinet showing a cluster of dark circular spots on the particleboard panel and heavy surface rust along the adjoining metal frame.

FINDINGS IN THIS PHOTO

• Cabinet interior spotting. A cluster of small dark circular spots is visible on the particleboard panel, consistent in appearance with mold growth.

View of a painted concrete garage floor along a wall base, showing a damp sheen, discoloration at the wall-floor joint, and a small chip in the floor paint.

FINDINGS IN THIS PHOTO

• Garage concrete floor. The painted concrete floor shows a wet sheen, discoloration along the wall-floor joint, and a small chip in the paint surface.

View of an open cabinet door area on a wet gray concrete floor with scattered orange foam-like debris and staining at the base of the adjacent door casing.

FINDINGS IN THIS PHOTO

• Door casing and floor debris. Wet flooring near an open cabinet shows scattered orange foam-like debris and staining at the base of the door casing.

Close-up of a wall-floor corner on painted gray concrete showing a rust-colored drip trail down the wall and darker discoloration in the corner.

FINDINGS IN THIS PHOTO

• Wall-floor corner staining. A rust-colored drip trail runs down the painted wall into a darker discolored patch in the floor corner.

What could be hidden

Possible — not confirmed. Photos can't see behind surfaces.

• Mold growth inside wall cavity or behind cabinets. The visible spotting and over-3-day wet duration commonly accompany hidden growth on backing materials or framing that photos of the cabinet face cannot confirm.
• Moisture trapped under or around cabinet base. Standing water noted under 2 inches can wick beneath cabinet toe kicks and into the slab-cabinet interface, which is not visible in these close-up shots.
• Electrical components near the wet area. Garages commonly have outlets or wiring low on walls; none are shown in these photos, so exposure to the gray water cannot be ruled out or confirmed.
• Additional rust or degradation on unseen cabinet hardware. Corrosion visible on exposed frame sections often extends to fasteners and shelf brackets not captured in these close-up angles.

How serious this looks

Moderate

Real damage worth a professional's eyes, but nothing suggests an immediate structural hazard.

What repairs might cost

Estimated visible repair range

$2,500–$7,000

This is a triage range for visible damage in your region — not a quote, and not an insurance settlement prediction. Hidden damage could raise it.

What your adjuster will look at

1. 01

   Category of water

   The homeowner describes the water as gray (category 2), which is consistent with an AC condensate leak but is not clean water, and this affects whether contact materials are treated as salvageable or requiring replacement.

2. 02

   Duration and mitigation timeline

   The area was reportedly wet for over 3 days before discovery, which adjusters typically flag as increasing the likelihood of secondary damage such as mold growth, visible here as dark spotting on the cabinet backing.

3. 03

   Sudden vs. gradual loss

   AC-related leaks can be characterized as sudden or gradual depending on how long the unit was leaking undetected; this distinction is often central to appliance-leak claims and should be clarified with the AC service record.

4. 04

   Pre-existing corrosion

   The metal cabinet frames show heavy rust; an adjuster may ask whether this corrosion predates the current incident or resulted entirely from it, which the photos alone cannot resolve.

5. 05

   Extent of contamination

   Visible spotting consistent with mold growth was documented on cabinet materials; adjusters commonly request a professional mold assessment to confirm species and extent before authorizing remediation scope.

What to do next

1. 01

   Confirm the AC leak source is fully resolved

   Have the air conditioner's condensate line, pan, or drain checked and repaired to prevent recurrence before starting repairs.

2. 02

   Schedule a moisture and mold inspection

   A professional can test the dark spotting seen on the cabinet backing and check for hidden moisture behind cabinets or in the slab.

3. 03

   Photograph and document current conditions before cleanup

   Take wider photos of the full garage and any debris before it is discarded, so the loss extent is clearly recorded.

4. 04

   Get itemized repair quotes

   Obtain quotes for cabinet replacement, antimicrobial treatment, and floor cleaning so scope and costs are documented.

5. 05

   Report the loss details to your insurer

   Provide the date the leak was discovered, how long the area was wet, and the AC service history to support the claim review.

What to ask next

Questions, not commitments — a competent professional answers every one of these without flinching.

How confident we are

Medium

The photos clearly document rust, staining, and probable mold spotting on cabinet materials and the floor, but they are close-up shots that do not show the full garage extent, wall cavities, or electrical fixtures.