Tips to protect your commercial property from water damage

Water damage is one of the most common and costly problems faced by property managers. As the second most filed insurance claim for small businesses in the US, water damage in commercial properties is a recurring issue, whose cost impact is only set to go up with the severity of climate change and worsened weather conditions. For most businesses, it is a question of when, not if, they will face water damage and the related structural issues, downtime, and potential health problems for the users of these buildings.

While in California flooding and excessive rain is not normally an issue, there are other reasons to check for water damage. Droughts and dry periods mean that water is a valuable commodity, and we must ensure we conserve our supplies to the best of our ability.

Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to prevent water damage from occurring on your commercial property. By creating and implementing a routine maintenance check, you can often pre-empt water issues, saving the business tens of thousands of dollars of lost revenue — and a lot of headaches for the property manager. 

Leak Detectors

Here’s where we can leverage the powers of technology, and bring in a leak detection system. For commercial properties, installing and running a leak detection system can seem like an unnecessary expense, specifically in California where we are not prone to flooding. That said, it is in the best interest of the planet that we conserve water, and not only that, burst pipes, backups and faulty installations can cause costly damage, affect the running of your business, and pose a health threat — where there’s humidity, mold is never far away.

Leak detectors can relieve some of the burden of frequent maintenance checks. Sit back and wait for an alert rather than increasing the workload of your maintenance technician or property manager. If you are not in the position to install a full leak detection system, you cannot forego the comprehensive maintenance check. At Superdry Restoration Inc, we recommend you include a handful of hotspots on your checklist. 

Hotspots

A few culprits spring to mind when we think of water damage. At Superdry Restoration, we have seen water damage of all shapes and sizes, and in all types of businesses from hospitality to hospitals, and casinos to colleges. Water damage doesn’t discriminate when it comes to the type of building, but it does have its favorite places to show up. The most common places are gutters, downspouts, insulation, doors, windows, and rooves, air conditioning systems, and water supply pipes in kitchens, bathrooms, and pools.

Knowing where to look for issues makes life that little bit easier. Here’s what to look out for:

Gutters and Downspouts

One of the best ways to prevent water damage is to keep your gutters and downspouts clean and in good repair. Clogged gutters can cause water to back up and overflow, which can lead to water damage to your roof, siding, and foundation. Be sure to clean your gutters at least once a year, and more often if your commercial property is located in an area with a lot of trees or other debris. 

Insulation

Another way to prevent water damage is to make sure your commercial property is properly insulated and weatherproofed. Drafty windows and doors, as well as cracks in the foundation, can allow water to enter your property and cause damage. By sealing up any gaps and ensuring your building is well-insulated, you can help keep water out. 

Joints are the most vulnerable point of a building for water to seep in, so check corners and floor and ceiling lines on your routine check. Damp carpets near the edges, flaky or bubbling paintwork, and musty smells are tell-tale signs.

Plumbing

Finally, be sure to keep an eye on any plumbing in your home, and have any leaks or other problems fixed as soon as possible. Even a small leak can cause a lot of water damage over time, so it’s important to nip any problems in the bud. By following these simple tips, you can help prevent water damage in your home and save yourself a lot of time, money, and hassle in the long run.

Commercial Properties and Water Damage

Californian commercial properties tend to be less prone to water damage due to the weather conditions in this area, but from an ecological and sustainability standpoint, it is just as important to conserve water supplies, because even minor leaks can cause damage to a property as well as the environment.

Where possible, it is a good idea to install a leak detection system, because it saves time and money on laborious routine checks, but if a routine check is your most valid option, you can create a water damage checklist to allow you to identify problems as and when they arise.

Finally, if you do identify water damage, it is important to call a damage restoration company such as Superdry Restoration Inc, who will be able to analyze the extent of the damage, ascertain whether there are any structural issues, and also whether mold will pose a problem to public safety. If you do encounter any number of these issues, don’t worry, Superdry Restoration Inc. will have you back up in business in no time!

Common leaks detected on commercial properties and commercial buildings can be little more than an annoyance if you catch them on time. Here’s what to look out for during your regular in-house maintenance checks:

• Water PH

You’re wondering why the water ph of perfectly non-leaky taps and tubes is relevant here, aren’t you? The thing with water that is too acidic or too alkaline is that it can cause corrosion on some types of pipes. You can use domestic testing kits to check the ph of the water, although we recommend adding it to your plumber’s to-do list, as professional testing is more accurate.

2. Bathrooms

A little more obvious this time, right? Toilets and faucets with heavy and often aggressive use, such as those in nightclubs or sports stadiums can cost a small fortune if they’re not regularly maintained. Any places with heavy traffic in bathrooms are at risk for water leaks, and when you’re a busy manager they can easily slip your mind. Make a point to turn on non-automatic faucets and turn them off again to check for issues.

3. Erosion

How old is your commercial property? If it’s older than a few years and has been exposed to the weather over the course of a few years, you may find water is creeping its way into your building between roof tiles, joints, windows, and door frames. Check those areas you may normally frequent less, such as storage rooms, attics, and basements. These are easily ignored, giving the water a lengthy margin with which to start causing structural and mold problems.

4. Poor Construction

While building codes are turning this eventuality into a thing of the past, oversights in construction can lead to water filtering through any small gap and causing trouble in your commercial property. When you call for the damage to be remediated, the restoration company should also be able to identify the source of the problem.

5. Sewage Backup

Finish your sandwich before reading on. There are around 500,000 sewage backups and blockages every year in the US. Not only is sewage backup a common water issue in commercial properties, but it’s also pretty undesirable for obvious reasons. Get on out of there and call a restoration company that deals with sewage backup. Not only to protect your Jimmy Choos but also because this type of water damage can be extremely hazardous to your and your occupants’ health. Get on the phone to Superdry Restoration and finish that sandwich.

Need help with a water remediation issue? Superdry Restoration Inc is on call 24/7, call 855-242-7024.