If water is uncontrolled or approaching electrical equipment, prioritise safety and call a plumber. The guidance below is general and does not replace an inspection.

Understanding the issue

A damp smell can follow a slow leak, waste connection problem or moisture trapped by stored items. An apparently dry shelf does not rule out a small intermittent drip. Evidence behind appliances or at the cabinet base may help.

Before arranging the visit

Clear accessible storage and note whether the smell changes after washing up or appliance use.

Choosing the appropriate plumbing visit

We check the visible fault, isolation, pipe condition and access before agreeing the repair scope. Our kitchen plumbing page explains the related work and how an assessment is arranged.

Where the findings point to complete kitchen plumbing installation, read the complete kitchen plumbing installation service details before discussing the repair scope. The actual fitting and access determine the work needed.

Information worth keeping

Record when the issue occurs, the affected room and any previous repair. For a property in our home area, plumbing in West Bridgford explains the local enquiry route; check the coverage directory for another postcode.

Connected questions

For a related question about kitchen plumbing, the guide Kitchen refits: protect the plumbing programme explains what to record next.

For a related question about kitchen plumbing, the guide Adding a drinking-water filter under the sink explains what to record next.