What You Should Know About Commercial Water Damage
For any business owner, their building is their largest asset. As much preventive action as you take towards preventing any kind of structural damage within your property, accidents like pipe bursts, backed up drains, leaks, and frozen plumbing lines can be unavoidable.
It is important for those who run a business or own a commercial building to understand these commercial water damage facts geared towards protecting your facility from any possible disasters.
12 Water Damage Prevention Facts
While every commercial building is different, they all face the risk of suffering water damage to some extent. Even the smallest issues like cracks in the roof or pipe leaks can cause significant damage and affect the value of the property. These 12 facts can significantly reduce the chances of these disasters occurring in your commercial building.
- Proper maintenance can prevent water damage
Get and stay in the habit of inspecting elements throughout the building on a frequent basis. These commercial water damage preventative maintenance tasks can include inspection of the roof, plumbing lines, and drains.
If needed, contact a contractor to inspect your building once or twice a year to ensure everything is working properly.
- Roof leaks are a common cause of water damage
Just a small hole or crack in the roof can lead to major water damage within the HVAC system or commercial building. Even if the roof was just installed last year, leaks can occur at any time.
Also keep in mind that major storms, freezing temperatures, and strong winds will increase the risk of water damage from the roof.
- Have the plumbing inspected frequently
Extensive water damage can result in discoloring, warping, and buckling of drywall and other porous materials.
If pipes and plumbing fixtures are not checked on a consistent basis, extensive water damage can result in discoloring, warping, and buckling of drywall and other porous materials. Also keep in mind that insurance companies will not usually cover the costs of water damage caused by wear and tear.
- There are different types of water contamination
There are three different types of water contamination: white water, gray water, and black water. The safety procedures and effective cleanup will differ with each type of damage. For this reason, it’s always recommended to call a professional to handle the water damage restoration service.
- Your insurance company may not cover all types of water damage
While insurance companies will typically cover the costs of water damage that couldn’t have been avoided, such as burst pipes or leaks, there are exclusions. Know that most policies do not cover flood damage due to high restoration costs. Read the details of your policy carefully to make sure you are covered should a disaster occur in your building.
- Investing in flood insurance is necessary for some buildings
Water and flood damage insurance policies are different. If you live in a flood zone, or area where the risk of flooding is high, it would be a good idea to purchase an additional flood insurance policy. If you are unsure, contact your insurance representative about whether or not you need additional coverage.
- Contacting your insurance company right away yields the highest chance of the costs being covered
After finding water damage in your commercial facility, call your insurance agent and file a claim right away. The company will guide you through the steps needed to restore and protect your property.
- Taking action right away when finding water damage can prevent the damage from spreading
As soon as you find water damage in your commercial building, make sure you know how to handle the situation. Timeliness is key towards getting the property restored efficiently vs. facing additional restoration costs as a result of the water spreading.
Hiring professionals to extract all standing water and dry out the affected area will prevent any mold growth from developing.
- Water extraction is the key to preventing additional damage
Excess water can lead to severe structural damage if not handled properly or right away. An experienced water damage restoration company knows exactly how to prevent the damage from spreading further in any case, such as a major leak or flood. Hiring these professionals to extract all standing water and dry out the affected area will prevent any musty smells or mold growth from developing in the walls or under floors.
- Different restoration processes are needed for different materials
Any hard surface like concrete or metal can be salvaged after water damage. Porous materials like ceiling tiles and insulation will need to be removed completely. Restoration professionals will determine the best processes to use according to the inspection conducted firsthand in your commercial building.
- Problems can still occur after the water is extracted
Even after all standing water has been removed, the remaining moisture poses a significant risk for mold growth and musty smells. Having a mold prevention specialist inspect your building after water damage can mean the difference between a safe, dry building and a growing problem underneath floors or behind walls.
In any situation, the equipment and drying processes used by our technicians will ensure that all excess moisture is eliminated from the affected area to prevent mold growth.
- Mold will grow quickly
Mold growth can develop in as little as 24 – 48 hours after water damage. In moist conditions, these areas should be dried out as soon as possible to prevent the risk of mold.
Contact a Professional for Water Damage Restoration
When experts receive your call, they will respond immediately with the proper equipment needed to restore the area to its original condition.
If your commercial building has suffered water damage to any extent, don’t hesitate to call a professional for complete water damage restoration services.
Professional technicians are IICRC-certified, trained, and experienced to handle water damage repair with efficiency and effectiveness. As soon as they receive your first call, they will respond immediately with professional equipment and products needed to restore the area to its original condition. All standing water will be extracted, followed by drying out and cleaning of the affected area to prevent the risk of mold growth.
After the service, they will work with your insurance company throughout the claims process so you can focus on business matters.
