Not an engneered floor. Not sure about the 1, 2, or 3 strip strip. I do have a piece or 2 left over when part of it was redone when our washing machine overflowed a few years back.

A pipe leak perhaps? I'm not quite sure if I've ever witnessed a pot on the way to the sink, or anything else spilling for that matter, do that kind of damage. Usually folks clean that type of accident up pretty quickly, even though a certain amount seeps into the seams, I would venture that type of damage is rare. Maybe a squirt gun or a water balloon , or hey, a pooch Nightfly, was there some type of accident when no one was home, your not aware of ? In that exact location, that sat there and festered?

I am home a lot and do not recall having a water spill there. It is away from the sink, dishwasher, and washing machine. I saw this on wood floors online and do not know if this is what it is . . .

CUPPING - CROWNING - BUCKLING (see graphic)
"Washboard". Across the width of one piece of the flooring material, the edges are high, the center is lower. Generally develops gradually.


CAUSE:
Moisture imbalance through the thickness is the only cause. The material was manufactured flat and was flat when installed. Job site or occupant provided moisture is greater on the bottom of the piece than on the top. Prove it with your moisture meter. Find the source of moisture and eliminate it. Common moisture sources and their corrections are:
Airborne (Relative Humidity) - dehumidify air space or (lack of during heating season humidify air space); wet basement - ventilate, dehumidify; crawlspace groundcover/vents, add exhaust fan on timer; lot topography - french drain to remove; rain handling provisions - correct to drain away from house; excessive lawn/garden moisture - reduce/waterproof foundation; leaks plumbing, roof, doors - fix; don't hose patio; maintenance; correct capillary through slab - install barrier, french drain, drain tiles. In kitchens, the dishwasher and ice maker are notorious leakers.
Expansion is also the result of site moisture and may have moved the floor tight to vertical surfaces. If so, remove flooring along the wall, or saw cut, to relieve pressure.


CURE:
Allow time. Time for the corrections to take effect - to permit the floor to improve on its own. It may become acceptable . After stabilized, sand flat and finish. Cost of corrections should be for owner or builder to cover.

It doesn't have to be directly next to a water source, water will travel to the lowest spot and just pool there and soak into the wood. I looked at a floor one time as soon as I saw it I said water damage, and the woman denied up and down because it was in the middle of the room. then they discovered a small leak from one of the shower pipes and it just ran 20 feet till it found it's spot.

Thanks Jeff! That's exactly what I've been trying to say but hasn't come out for some reason. That was worded perfect Seen many water damage issues that were quite a distance from the culpret. See, still not worded right,lol

We have a crawl space. Would I be able to see it behind the insulation with my own eyes?

That's possible, it's the first place I would look. Also possible a plumbing leak that traveled between the hardwood and the subfloor and wicked up through the hardwood at that location.

Are you saying there is a pipe that runs between the subfloor and the hardwood? If there is aa leak between there I may not be able to spot it.

No, well properly run piping under subfloors is run way below the subfloor itself about midway through the joists. Otherwise it weuld get punctured by the fasteners of the wood and subfloor fasteners if off.

Re-read Jeff's post, describes it perfectly. You can have a leak at your dish washer,( for instance), that water can travel between the subfloor and the wood floor, and affect the wood floor 10 feet away from the dishwasher.

This thread reminds me of one we had not to far in the past.

Is that the one where you solved the problem with your magnets ?

I no speaka da english?

I wil check behind the insulation (a lot of it feel wet). We do have a dryer hose running that way, I wonder if it has a leak somewhere near there?

I too a look behind the insulation which was wet and I saw moisture as the pictures indicate. It seems o be coming from a small white pipe which may be the dishwasher.





There is a vent which must be that one that is runs under the sink. The hardwood is away from this a bit but maybe it is buckling because it it in the center and is the place to buckle as opposed to the sides.