Water damage to your commercial property can be expensive. It not only costs money to repair, but it can cost you in other ways, too. Loss of merchandise, damaged equipment, poor employee morale, sick employees, and even damage to your brand reputation if the water damage is in a customer-facing area. The sooner you can detect water damage, the easier it is to identify its source and fix it.
Here are some of the most common causes of water damage to commercial properties. Keeping an eye out for these sources can help you minimize property damage and water damage restoration costs.
Roof Leaks
Your roof is your main protection against the elements, especially rainwater. If it starts to leak, water damage can begin, and it will expand to affect everything beneath it. It’s important to identify roof leaks before they lead to extensive ceiling damage and other expensive water damage.
What to Watch for: Roof Leaks
With roof leaks, you should watch for water spots in the ceiling. These will appear in either ceiling tiles, plaster, or drywall ceilings. Also watch for bubbling paint, sagging ceiling, or even a falling section of the roof.
When you notice signs of a roof leak, it’s important to contact commercial water damage restoration professionals.
Leaky Plumbing
Indoor plumbing is an essential modern convenience, but it also introduces the possibility of leaks. Leaky plumbing can lead to water damage anywhere in the building, often behind walls and in areas where no one goes, so the water damage might develop over time, which can mean a lot of damage before anyone notices.
Fire sprinklers are a common source of leaks in commercial properties, so inspect these regularly and examine the floor under them for signs of water.
What to Watch for: Leaky Plumbing
As we noted, leaky plumbing can occur anywhere, including areas where no one goes. This can make it hard to detect leaky plumbing. In addition, even a serious water leak might not release enough water to make a noticeable change in your usage, so you won’t spot it on your water bill.
Instead, look for moisture in unexpected areas. This can be a wet carpet, water damaged drywall, or the smell or sight of mold growth anywhere.
You can contact a plumber if you suspect leaky plumbing, but a water damage restoration expert might be better at both repairing the leak and fixing water damage.
Air Conditioning and Cooler Condensation
Climate control is essential in commercial buildings, and the most common choice for climate control is air conditioning. When air conditioning cools down the air, it also causes water condensation, which has the side benefit of dehumidifying the space.
However, water condensation at an air conditioning unit can lead to water damage if this water isn’t drained properly. Clogged or inadequate drains around air conditioners can lead to water damage. Coolers can create similar problems, since they use the same technology.
What to Watch for: Air Conditioning and Cooler Condensation
Check the area around the unit for dampness, wall discoloration, sagging, or dripping onto the floor. It’s also important to make sure that the relevant drains are functioning properly with regular inspections and maintenance.
Appliance Leaks
Many appliances use water. Water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, boilers, and ice makers are all hooked up to plumbing. Their dedicated lines can break or develop leaks. Leaks can also develop in the appliances themselves, especially at the door seals for dishwashers and washing machines.
What to Watch for: Appliance Leaks
The most obvious sign of an appliance leak is the presence of water around the appliance. However, also watch for musty smells, floor damage, and mold growth. In some cases, poor appliance function (dishes not getting clean, low ice production, etc.) might alert you to water leaks.
Sewage Backup
When sewage backs up from toilets or drains, it can not only cause water damage, but also carry dangerous contaminants with it. Backed up sewage can’t be cleaned the way other water can, and it should be handled by water damage restoration professionals.
What to Watch for: Sewage Backup
With sewage backup, you will most likely witness the backflow of black liquid from the drains. However, if you aren’t present when the backflow occurs, you may notice black residue around the drains, on toilets, and on the walls. You will also notice the strong, organic odor of sewage.
If allowed to dry, the residue may turn gray and might not have a strong smell.
Flooding
Flooding occurs when water levels outside rise high enough that standing water can enter the building. Flooding can cause extensive damage in part because of the sheer quantity of water, but also because it may take days to recede.
What to Watch for: Flooding
If you had to evacuate during flooding, you might still see the level of the floodwaters marked on the walls. If you can’t see the water marks and don’t know the extent of flooding, check for water in or behind drywall.
Groundwater
Groundwater can seep into any floor of a commercial space at or below ground level. This typically occurs when there is insufficient drainage to direct water away from the foundation. The presence of excessive groundwater can cause soil swelling that leads to heaving and cracking concrete. The effect of this can be seen in damaged drywall, plaster, and other internal structures as well as damaged brick work. In addition, water that seeps into the structure can cause water damage and lead to the growth of mold.
What to Watch for: Groundwater
Look for cracks in the concrete walls and foundation. Typically, you might see zig-zag cracking between bricks on the outside of the building. In addition, pay attention to musty smells on the lower floors of your building, especially if these worsen after a rainstorm or during snow melt. Watch for cracks in drywall or plaster and keep an eye out for mold growth.
We Handle Commercial Water Damage Restoration
If you suspect water damage to your commercial property, a fast response is important. It will stop further damage and reduce the overall cost of repairs.
Let Just Right Cleaning & Construction handle water damage to your commercial property. We are the leading water damage restoration company in the greater Seattle & Spokane Metro Area, with extensive experience restoring both residential and commercial properties. JRCC Damage Restoration Experts offers 24/7 emergency response services. As soon as you detect water damage, give us a call and we will be on site ASAP to handle the damage.
Unlike calling a plumber or roofer, we can handle all phases of water damage restoration. Not only can we repair the source of water damage, but we can also restore your property to eliminate all signs of water damage. This includes repairing or replacing drywall, mold remediation, and structural drying as necessary. Our meticulous process utilizes the latest practices accepted in the industry to virtually erase all signs of water damage.
We can also work directly with your insurance company to make the claims process easier. We know how to handle insurance’s complex documentation requirements so you won’t have your claim denied or reduced because you didn’t document the damage or repairs correctly.
Please contact us today at 509-765-4138 to learn how JRCC Damage Restoration Experts can help with water damage to your commercial property.