BUSINESSES AND WATER DAMAGE

7/6/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO helping our local businesses 24/7!

Although we talk a lot about our customers homes, their water damages, how common they are and how to prevent them, we can’t ignore the fact that business’s also encounter damages within their buildings and/or offices. After doing some research, we learned that the American Housing Survey of the U.S. Census showed that out of 100 representatives of US office buildings, 85% of these are past water damage while 45% are experiencing current leaks.  Financially as a business owner, its important to maintain the stability of your building.

Here are some major causes of water damage we want to provide as a key guide for owners to follow and assure there are no water damages that may lead to crucial damages in the future

1. Damaged sprinkler system- the law requires for all commercial entities, incase of a fire, to have a sprinkler system, along with a fire alarm. After some time, sprinklers may get broken or begin to malfunction. This becomes dangerous, for you the owner, because if the sprinklers malfunction and go off on their own, without a fire, can lead to an unexpected flood.
2. Roof leaks- take into mind that your roof is what gets all the weather impacts. From too much sun, hail, and rain and a leaky roof can lead to water damage.
3. Broken HVAC System- an HVAC system that aren’t cleaned and/or maintained regularly can cause water damage from the excess water in the compression tanks.
4. Broken equipment and appliances- worst-case scenario for this example is when no one notices a leaking appliance, or during off hours something breaks leading to unpredicted results
5. Damaged windows- here’s another common cause for commercial buildings. Rain water and moisture can seep through especially if the windows are not properly maintained and need re-caulking. Although this might not lead to immediate flooding, it can do great damage to your drywall and encourage mold growth.
6. Natural disaster- the number one most feared. Mother nature can impact the strongest and cost us the most.

We can’t get rid of the obvious, but we can familiarize ourselves with the common causes to help minimize the risk and damage.