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Water damage caused by heavy rain or flooding is a nuisance. It can disrupt commercial activity and force you to shut your business down until the problem is remedied. Consequently, you may face significant financial loss, which only adds to your problems.
However, there is a way out. While you can’t predict when your business may experience water damage again, you can take specific preventive measures to mitigate the destruction. If this unforeseen situation occurs, here’s how you should handle it:
What Does Water Damage Look Like?
Water damage can occur for many reasons, including a burst pipe, an overflowing toilet, a leak, or torrential rain and flooding. But once the water starts seeping into your commercial property, you will see obvious signs of damage, for instance:
- Water Stains. Water that soaks through the walls, ceiling, or floor leaves behind discolored stains. These are often yellow, brown, or beige and may carry a foul odor.
- Increase In Humidity. Air naturally absorbs water, which causes water vapors to rise into the atmosphere, increasing the surrounding temperature. As a result, you may feel hot, and sweaty and observe condensation on the surface of your appliances.
- Mold Or Mildew. Untreated water gradually causes mold or mildew. This is a type of fungus that is highly harmful to your health. If you have mold or mildew in your establishment, you will need to call a professional specializing in water damage restoration so that the area can get cleaned thoroughly and every last drop of stagnant water gets drained.
Certain water damage types are not visible and silently collect inside a building. Commercial buildings may have cracks in the structure that allow small amounts of water to trickle through. An increase in your water bill is an indicator of this problem.
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How To Deal with Commercial Water Damage
The only way to deal with water damage is by tracking down the source of the problem and acting accordingly. The following are ways through which you can ensure that your business stays safe from potential water damage:
1. Inspect Your HVAC And Plumbing System
Your air conditioners, plumbing, and sprinkler systems are all connected to a water source. Therefore, if these appliances start leaking, it can lead to massive water damage.
Get these units inspected at least once a year. At the same time, ensure they are clean and don’t have debris building up within them. The gradual build-up of these objects can also destroy your HVAC system.
2. Seal Cracks
Over time, minute cracks and gaps can appear anywhere in your building. But, these holes are more commonly near windows and doors through which cold air can enter the building.
Prolonged exposure to this temperature change can cause the water in the pipes to freeze. Ice is bulkier than flowing water, so it will push against the pipes and burst them.
The best way to prevent this is to become proactive about commercial renovations. Anytime you see a minute crack or opening, use sealants to block them off. You can also replace the caulk and weather stripping around the doors and windows to reduce the chances of these gaps getting bigger.
3. Use Insulation on Exposed Pipes
Metal pipes are sensitive to temperature. They react to changes in weather rapidly. If you have large pipes running out of your commercial property, you must insulate them.
Unlike pipes inside the walls, those on the exterior are far bigger and wider, so if they get damaged and burst, they can cause flooding and massive structural damage.
Insulation saves pipes from getting exposed to the atmosphere. Hence, if the weather drops below freezing point, they will remain unaffected.
4. Clean Your Roof
If you have a flat roof, snow and water can easily collect and pool on the top. Stagnant water gradually weakens surfaces. Any area submerged under melting snow or large bodies of water after rain can cave in.
As a result, you may notice that your building’s ceiling is leaking and has developed water stains, which is why, during these seasonal changes, go up to the roof and remove the water or snow.
5. Clear Off Drains and Gutters
Gutters and downspouts are outside your building, making them susceptible to fallen leaves and debris. These structures can overflow because of the foliage, which may ruin the drainage system.
If you let this problem fester, the water will soon seep into your building, leaving a massive mess in its wake. Therefore regularly clean gutters and drains to ensure water flows through properly.
6. Remove valuable items from harm’s way
You may have numerous pieces of valuable equipment lying around the building. You must have a contingency plan for them if flooding occurs or water enters the establishment.
If you have equipment nailed to the floor, try covering them with waterproof plastic, but every movable piece of equipment should be stored in a high place away from any water source.
7. Get Insured
Insurance is a safety net that can protect you from a significant financial loss. Depending on the size of your business, you may be legible for various insurance plans.
In most cases, commercial businesses sign up for business hazard insurance. This plan covers most damages, including destruction caused by water and floods. But they may have limitations regarding backed-up sewer lines and external flooding.
Although, if your company closes down because of flooding or extensive water damage, you can apply for business interruption insurance. To know what insurance your business qualifies for, look up insurance companies present in your state and find out which ones work with businesses.
Conclusion
As a business owner, nothing is more unsettling than experiencing a sudden and unanticipated loss, especially due to water damage. Yet, this happens way more often than it should.
Water is hard to contain; once it enters the building or begins collecting between the walls, it can cause severe structural damage. Therefore, if you want to combat this issue, you need to go the extra mile in insulating the pipes, monitoring all the water sources throughout your business, and ensuring an effective drainage system is in place.
Furthermore, don’t hesitate to ask professional water restoration companies for help. These experts have tips you can easily apply to your business model and protect your enterprise.
