Causes of Commercial Water Damage

12/27/2018 (Permalink)

Whether it's your store, warehouse, office, etc Water Damage can happen.

When business owners experience damage it is often due to reasons that could have possibly been prevented with a little preventative and routine maintenance. Often when a business owner thinks of water damage happening to their business, they often picture a massive storm wiping out power lines, flooding offices, and shutting down businesses for days at a time. While it is often true that commercial water damage is usually the result of floods and water caused by weather events and storms, it is not the only cause. Some causes get overlooked and are not considered ahead of time as a possible problem being that one often only thinks about some of them where their home, not their office is concerned.

Here are some of the typical causes of water damage to commercial buildings and businesses. You’ll notice that some of them are probably familiar to you if you are a homeowner.  

1. Broken pipes and plumbing Just like in your home residence, if the plumbing system in your workplace fails water damage could be the result. It is best to ensure that you, or if you have a landlord, are taking steps especially prior to cooler weather to ensure that pipes are not damaged and will not freeze.

2. Malfunctioning fire sprinkler systems

Usually older office and retail buildings may have outdated sprinkler systems that work in conjunction with fire protection systems. While sprinklers can come in handy during a fire emergency, if they are faulty or in need of replacement, they can also be a major cause of commercial flood damage. Should they malfunction, fire sprinklers can easily damage inventory and business assets.

3. Backed up sewer lines Another cause of commercial water damage that often catches business owners by surprise is a backed-up sewer. Should the sewer line to your building back up or become damaged, you must realize the potential dangers of contaminated Black Water which can cause health effects and ruin products and office furnishings. Should this happen, most products and furnishings may not be salvageable due to health reasons. In this type of situation, the business may definitely need to be shut down and all employees removed until cleanup is complete.

4. Damaged appliances and equipment

Commercial flood damage is more common in restaurants and catering facilities, as well as any business that has appliances and equipment that make use of water. If an appliance fails it’ll often send water across your building. If this happens outside of business hours when no one is around, you may come back to work and face a big water emergency.

5. Toilet or Shower Overflow

If your business is complete with a restroom, be it for public or employee only use, then you may experience toilet overflow. If your business also has a shower be it for employees, or perhaps you’re a hotel with guests, then you may also experience water overflowing from a shower or tub. Toilets for instance, can run and drip. Once it springs a bad leak it can then damage your floors and your walls. If your toilet is constantly running or dripping, it is best to figure out why before it becomes an even bigger problem. Be careful to not clog your toilets. While sometimes it is unavoidable, always make sure to have a plunger available in case it should be needed. If you know something has clogged your toilet, then do not keep flushing it. Until you are sure the clog has been dealt with properly, flushing can cause your toilet to overflow. Should that happen, do your best to clean up any water immediately. As for showers, it is best to ensure that the drains do not get clogged. This along with excess use of water for long showers, can lead to flooding and pooling, which if you’re not careful, can cause water damage.

You want to make sure to act quickly should you experience any Water Damage. Not only may not acting quickly possibly take your business out of commission or for a longer period of time, but it can also worsen the situation. More time not treated allows not only more time for any product, furniture or equipment to be damaged, but also then allows time for mold to begin growing. We are also here to assist with mold remediation, but it is best to avoid Water Damage getting to that point.  

Once our team at SERVPRO Greensboro North determines the level of loss due to the size of your facility. The property is then further assessed, and a team of appropriate size is dispatched to get the job done quickly and efficiently in order to return your business and operation to normal, “Like it never even happened”. If you experience any Water Damage to your business, then give us a call 24 / 7 and 365 days a year at 336-379-1772