Had a dishwasher leak, should i remove chipboard?

[Gary111]

It's a small patch in what is a not very load bearing area, one foot of the fridge sits on it.

It could have been leaking for years, but there's no hole, I can just about push my thumb into it if trying very hard, but not right through.

Im not really worried about the chipboard itself just the joists underneath. I've soaked it in wood preservative thinking it would soak the joists also.

Should I chisel out a piece of chipboard to see if I can see the joist?

 

[Gary111]

 

[Gary111]

I am thinking it could be worse under the tiles as it would stay wetter for longer.

 

[big-all]

if you can push your finger into is its shot and holding moisture constantly
now your joists may be fine to very damaged even dangerous
i would open a section in the worst area joist centre to to joist centre and look then extend as required to remove 90-95% off the peripheral raised damaged area and sand the tiny odd swollen but firm bits flat
if you can get a screwdriver to dent more than 2mm its probably shot

 

[Gary111]

Thanks for your help, is that the case if I have only just stopped the leak?

Or should I give it chance to dry before trying to push it again?

 

[big-all]

it takes many weeks or months to cause chipboard to react as its water-resistant so iff its just a drip over many many months now you can leave it but just be aware once swollen chipboard will never ever get better as its decompressed
so the only outcome is what you have but drying outwith probably very limited further damage but zero improvement in shape or strength
in other words it won't get better or harden up so iff you're not in a rush to sort it then fine but what you have now is what needs to be sorted