Tips to Prevent Water Damage in Your Hermitage Business

11/5/2021 (Permalink)

Fallen leaves and other debris in gutters and downspouts can lead to water damage to exterior and interior walls of a building

When the temperatures drop, it’s a great time to revisit the ways you can prevent water damage in your Hermitage, Sharon, or Grove City business.  Water damage in your commercial building may not only prevent you from doing business but can also put the health and safety of your employees at risk. The moment you spot signs of commercial water damage, it’s important to act immediately. Here are some tips to reduce the risk of water damage to your home or business:

Prevent pipes from freezing

When temperatures drop, especially at night, exposed pipes are vulnerable to freezing. Water inside a poorly insulated pipe can freeze, which creates pressure and ultimately causes the pipe to burst. This can lead to flooding and structural damage. The best way to prevent frozen pipes is to make sure they are insulated. Pipe insulation can be found at most hardware stores, and the more insulation you use, the better protected your pipes will be.

Another way to prevent pipes from freezing is to keep an eye on your business’ thermostat. The thermostat should never be set lower than 50 degrees – even on weekends or when the building is vacant. Also, regularly replace batteries in thermostats to ensure they are working properly.

Inspect gutters and drainage

Fallen leaves and other debris in gutters and downspouts can lead to water damage to exterior and interior walls of a building. Regularly inspect your building’s gutters, downspouts, and drainage system and remove any debris. Additionally, have gutters professionally cleaned on a regular basis.

Keep your roof clear

It’s important to regularly remove snow and ice from your business’ roof to prevent damage. Snow and ice on your business’ roof can weaken roofing materials and create “ice dams,” which prevent snow and ice from draining properly. Also, be aware of your roof’s weight limits, and periodically check to ensure that snow and ice accumulation aren’t exceeding those limits.

Locate your shut off valve

If a pipe breaks, you will need to act quickly to mitigate damage. It is crucial to know the location of the main shut-off valve for your building’s water supply so you can temporarily cut the flow of water to the building when necessary. This will prevent flooding until you are able to fix the problem.

Seal cracks and gaps

To prevent cold air from getting in and warm air from getting out, ensure any cracks, holes, or other gaps in your building’s foundation and exterior are sealed. Use caulk, weather stripping, and other sealants to make your building more energy efficient and reduce the risk of freezing pipes.

Keep track of valuable items

It’s beneficial to know the value of items in your building, which will help you replace them in the event of a water loss. If there is a risk of flooding, move valuable items from the floor, as long as you don’t put yourself at risk.  

Protect your business with insurance

In the event of water or freezing damage, the details of your insurance coverage matter. Many commercial property insurance policies cover the cost of pipe breakage but not damage from flooding, groundwater, and backed-up sewer lines. For adequate protection, you can ask your insurer to add a rider to your policy to extend coverage to hazards that are normally excluded.

Get an Emergency Ready Profile

SERVPRO of Mercer and Lawrence Counties offers a FREE service to improve your business’ preparedness in the event of a disaster. An Emergency Ready Profile (ERP) is a plan and guide to the ins and outs of your facility which contains critical information needed in the event of an emergency, including the location of shut off valves, current vendors and their contacts, and much more. If a fire or flood were to occur to your facility – you, your staff, and emergency personnel save time by acting instead of panicking.  This helps you as a business owner by minimizing interruption and associated loss of revenue. All at NO COST to you!

SERVPRO of Mercer and Lawrence Counties is locally owned and operated, so we are part of this community too. When you have a cleaning or restoration need, we are already nearby and ready to help. We are a premier fire and water restoration and cleanup company. We are Here to Help, 24/7. For immediate assistance give us a call at (724) 704-8939 or visit us on our Website.