Top 5 Reasons you might have a commercial water loss

9/1/2022 (Permalink)

Local wild life center had a large water loss, SERVPRO of Antioch was there to help

Extreme weather. As many may know 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 expected. If your commercial property is not 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. Also, if you have Windows or doors that are easily compromised, water can wipe out your entire office. 

Damaged appliances. Pretty much every office building has a kitchen or break room. And typically, these rooms have a refrigerator, a sink disposer or 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 get backed 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. Bathroom toilet supply lines are also notorious culprits of water damage.

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. First, any time there is a fire and the sprinklers activate, there will be water damage. And second, the sprinkler system can malfunction and activate on its own. When this happens, significant water damage can occur because 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 water damage restoration company, like SERVPRO of Antioch. And once we are on the job, we get right to work by doing the following:

First, we will thoroughly inspect the property. We will find out what caused the damage and make sure that the water has stopped flowing. We will also determine if the water is contaminated or not. During this stage we remove all furniture that has been affected, while trying to salvage as much as possible.

Next, we begin the water extraction process. 

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

When the property has been thoroughly dried, we start the sanitation process. We must make sure everything is cleaned and sanitized because of the mold and other contaminants that form due to standing water.

Water damage is not something that you want to happen on your commercial property. But 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. Call us today to put a disaster response plan in place.

SERVPRO of Antioch ready to help 24/7 925-706-0106

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