Where Does Water Damage Start in a Commercial Building?

2/8/2021 (Permalink)

Owning and managing a commercial building in Fairfield County, Ohio means that you have a lot on your plate and are extremely busy. You probably want to avoid reacting to problems, but instead you’ll want to anticipate problems and be prepared.

When It Comes to Water Damage, How Do You Do That?

Drainage

Bathrooms and kitchens in a place of business get a lot of foot traffic.  This means that your drains and toilets are doing a lot of work, so you should do what you can to keep them flowing and avoid flooding. Schedule your maintenance crew to check on them regularly and consider conducting a camera-scope inspection every so often.  Some tips to avoid a clogged toilet:

• Buy thinner, commercial grade toilet paper.
• Post signage about what can go in the toilet.
• Provide plenty of labeled waste receptacles.

Pipes

First, you should look into what type of pipes you have. If they’re older, they might be polybutylene, copper or galvanized iron. These materials are prone to damage and don't last forever. Please consider replacing if this is the case. Regardless of material, it is important to check them for corrosion or leaks on a regular basis because even the smallest drip can accumulate and bring headaches. Winter is not over and this time of year can also be hard on pipes, so be sure to keep your building warm enough to avoid freezing and broken pipes.

Fire Sprinklers

Sometimes your sprinklers can be triggered to go off without a fire. A warm light nearby or even some burnt food in the microwave may cause the blaze. This can cause water damage, especially if not taken care of right away. You should have a water damage restoration company like SERVPRO of Fairfield County picked out so you can move forward right away with water repair should something like this happen. It’s even more important if the incident was in a carpeted area, because this may eventually turn into a mold problem. There's a lot to manage in a large building. If you know what to add during a regular maintenance routine and some simple preventative measures, your life will be much easier.