Common Causes of Water Damage in Commercial Buildings

When you’re running a commercial business, the last thing you want to have to deal with is water damage, but where there are buildings and there are people, eventually there’s going to be some kind of flooding issue, great or small. You’d rather be out making money, of course – but while you’re doing that, you can’t forget about taking care of your facilities so that you’re not losing your profits in puddles of leaking water and hotspots of black mold. So here are some of the most common causes of water damage in commercial buildings, how you can prevent them, and what to do if you discover any of them in your property.

1. LEAKING OR BURSTING PIPES. Even a small building will have many long lengths of pipes, with all sorts of junctions and fittings where leaks can occur. In the freezing winter months, pipes are especially in danger of leaking or bursting due to temperature fluctuations

2. LEAKY TOILETS AND SINKS. Whether your toilets use standard wax rings or newer rubber-type fittings, these seals can fail. Unfortunately, when they do, you might not find them for a while if they just start as a small drip, so ask your maintenance team or even just your employees to keep a keen eye out for any signs of leakage in your bathroom fixtures.

3. MILDEW OR MOLD. When water leaks go undetected, or even just high moisture levels from excessive indoor humidity, you can develop unseen problems that might only be found when the resident office super-sniffer catches the first whiff of something funky coming from the ceiling or behind one of your walls. Mold and its cousin mildew only need the right warm, moist conditions and a source of food in order to grow, and eventually they’ll cause indoor air quality issues and potentially even health problems. Your building will suffer too, because over time mold can eat through surfaces and require major repairs, which means you’ll be losing major dollars from your profits.

4. POOR GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS. If water is allowed to collect around the perimeter of your building instead of being safely ushered well away from the foundation, then you’re just asking for basement water damage. As water freezes and thaws over the winter, or even if it just pools by your foundation wall for long enough, it can push against the walls of your structure, cause cracks and ultimately seep inside where it can lead to mold and other moisture control issues.

5. WORN ROOFING. Likewise, if the roof itself is leaky to begin with, you’re going to have problems in the attic of your structure that might go undetected for months or even years if you never check. Of course, you don’t want another expense for replacing an old roof, but would you rather have to pay for a new roof and a new attic, and maybe even a new main floor ceiling?

How can you avoid these kinds of water damage issues? The biggest thing favor can do for yourself and your bottom line is to incorporate routine property inspections into your own schedule or, if you have a trusted subordinate leader, task that person with conducting ongoing walk-throughs of your indoor spaces and walk-arounds (and even walk-aboves!) your building’s exterior as well. Prioritizing this time – even if it is only a half an hour a week – will show your staff that caring for your facility is important, and this in itself can save you money over time by creating a culture of collective ownership of shared spaces, and even a more keen eye to employees’ own personal spaces. What if you designated 15 minutes for everyone to clean and inspect their areas at the same time every week, followed by a coffee break? You’ll have a healthier and happier staff, and a cleaner and safer building too. Remember, you won’t find a leak that you’re not looking for -- until it’s so big that you can’t miss it, and then it’s too late!

If, during your inspections, you find any of the above water damage problems in your commercial business, then don’t hesitate to contact a professional company with a longstanding reputation for excellent service and superior results: it’s time for you to get to know us here at AdvantaClean. Since 1994, our local water damage restoration experts have been making flood cleanup and even sewer cleanup situations disappear for business owners just like you. Even a small flooding issue can mean big problems if it’s not cleaned up the right way, right away. S o save yourself the hassle and worry of moisture mitigation – let our certified professional water removal teams get to work for your business now. We’re certified by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification ( IICRC), so you’ll have the peace of mind in knowing that your water damage restoration is being done the right way. Give us a call now, because it’s not clean until it’s AdvantaClean!