Top Causes of Commercial Water Damage

10/2/2020 (Permalink)

Water damage is serious, and if you're not prepared when it happens to you, your business could be shut down for an unnecessary amount of time.

Top 5 causes of commercial water damage

Extreme weather

Unfortunately, flooding can happen very quickly. What starts out as a small storm can suddenly turn into something larger, and cause a lot more damage than anyone anticipated. If your commercial property isn’t in pristine condition, there is a chance that water damage will occur.

For example, a small leak on the roof can turn into a large downpour of water that floods an entire section of the property.

Damaged appliances 

Pretty much every office building has a kitchen or a break room. And typically these rooms have a refrigerator and possibly a dishwasher. When these appliances fail, they can leak a significant amount of water, flooding the entire room or more.

Backed up sewer lines

Bathrooms are another source of possible problems. It is not uncommon for the sewer lines to  back up, releasing contaminated water into the building.

This type of water damage is extremely dangerous because the water is filled with hazardous waste and other contaminants.

Malfunctioning sprinklers

By law, all commercial properties must be equipped with an overhead sprinkler system. This system works in conjunction with the fire alarm, and is typically activated when the fire alarm goes off. This can cause water damage in two ways.

Any time there is a fire and the sprinklers activate, there will be water damage. Secondly, the sprinkler system can malfunction and activate on its own. When this happens, significant water damage can occur because of the fact that the sprinkler system covers the entire building.

Broken pipes 

Broken or cracked pipes are very common in commercial buildings, especially as they age. When these pipes burst open, water rushes out of them, spraying throughout the building. This can cause damage to the ceiling, walls, and flooring, not to mention any furniture or electronics that get in the water’s way.

Obviously you want to keep an eye on the list above. Ongoing maintenance to your commercial property is key to not having water related issues. But if water damage does happen anywhere on your property, you need to take immediate action. After calling your insurance provider, you need to contact a reliable a water damage restoration company, such as SERVPRO of Oldham/Shelby County. Once onsite , the following process is what you can expect.

First the property will be throughly inspected. This is to determine what caused the damage and make sure that the water has stopped flowing. It should be determined whether the water is contaminated or not. During this stage it is expected to remove all furniture that has been affected, while trying to salvage as much as possible.

Next begins the water extraction process. Pumps and other extracting tools are used to remove all water from the property.

Once all the water is removed, then begins the drying process. If everything is not dried properly, problems occur that result in longer recovery and escalating restoration costs. The restoration company will then set up and monitor the drying process through every phase to ensure that proper drying occurs. Then the tech will document moisture levels, provide moisture maps, and photograph drying for the insurance provider.

When the property has been thoroughly dried, the sanitation process begins. Everything will be cleaned and sanitized because of the mold and other contaminates that form due to standing water.

And finally the rebuild happens. If the water damage destroyed ceilings, walls, or flooring, SERVPRO of Oldham/Shelby can rebuild it. 

Water damage isn’t something that you want to happen on your commercial property. However, when it does, you want to hire the right company to clean up the damage and get your business back to normal as quickly as possible. 

Water Damage In Your Commercial Property? Contact the professionals here at SERVPRO of Oldham/Shelby County today to speak to a Mitigation Specialist. 502.241.6861

SERVPRO OF Oldham/Shelby County also proudly serves Spencer, Henry and Trimble Counties.