Ways to Prevent Water Damage in your Business

3/5/2021 (Permalink)

Many business owners focus on preventing fires, but what about water damage? It's much more likely for water damage to affect your business due to a broken or frozen pipe, natural disaster, or a roof leak. And when these damages happen, your business may need to close for a week or more for the needed cleanup and repairs.

Here, we will go over actions you can take to help prevent a water damage event in your commercial property.

• Insulate water pipes. A major cause of flooding inside buildings during the winter is frozen or burst pipes. Pay special attention to exposed pipes, especially those in unheated or cooler areas of the building. Insulating any exposed pipes should decrease the likelihood of them freezing.
• Have building gutters and drainage cleared. This should be done once a year to prevent clogged gutters. This is best done going from the fall into the winter to get out any fallen leaves or branches. When the gutters of your business clog, they can cause roof leaks, basement flooding, water seepage, or even ice dams on the roof.
• Inspect the roof. Regularly inspect the roof, especially after heavy storms have come through to catch any signs of damage before they cause extensive issues. One small, unnoticed roof leak can cause extensive water damage in your business and cause mold growth across the building.
• Know where the water shutoff valve is. Make sure a few employees that are regularly in the building are aware of the location and how to turn off the water as well. When you're dealing with a water leak from a toilet or water line, you'll want to turn off the water as soon as possible to mitigate damages.
• Install a water sensor. Water sensors notify you when they detect a leak so that you can stop it as soon as possible.
• Inspect for signs of plumbing issues. One of the major causes of water damage in businesses, you'll want to have your plumbing system regularly inspected for signs of old or corroded pipes. In some cases, your plumber may even find a hidden water leak in your business behind a wall or under the floor. If you ever notice your water bill suddenly increase, a water leak may be to blame.
• Think about installing a sump pump. If you have areas susceptible to groundwater flooding, a sump pump can be a good investment to prevent flooding. Sump pumps work by pumping rising water levels away from the building and to a nearby drain.
• Invest in good property insurance. Any business should have adequate insurance coverage in case of a disaster to help lessen the financial impact of the damages. Do research to find what insurance company is right for the needs of your business.

Why Be Proactive About Water Damage in Your Business?

It's simple: When you protect your business from water damage, you will be able to mitigate damages, keep your doors open, or reopen much faster after a flooding disaster. With so many different sources of water damage, proactively taking steps to prevent it is the best thing you can do.

When you don't handle water damage in a timely manner, or it goes unnoticed, mold or mildew will also begin to spread across your property, only making damages worse. The choice is clear: Prepare your business for water damage or pay the price when it happens to you.