Water damage is simply the worst, being able to produce numerous sneak attacks to finish off it’s victims. First the water soaks through everything, ruining what it can, and then afterwards just when you think it might get better, mold creeps in like a thief in the night. This makes water damage a serious force to be reckoned with in the business place.

A burst pipe or similar water-related accidents has the potential to financially cripple a start-up. A business under attack by water damage, could very well have to shut down operations while the damage is repaired, which means money going down the drain as time is underutilized.

This is why in the instance of water damage it’s a good idea to have insurance on your business and quickly act to fix what you can when you notice.

All in all, even with insurance, the best medicine is prevention to avoid damage as much as possible. To make sure that you don’t have to worry about water damage in your business for a while, use the following tips;

10 Tips for Preventing Water Damage

Manage Heat

Proper heat management could be all that makes the difference in water damage situations. In the summer, make sure to open windows and keep your building cool to reduce the humidity so that mold cannot grow. In the winter, make sure the building is sufficiently warm, even at night and on weekends when the building is vacant. You will want to keep your thermostat above 5o degrees.

 

Keep Roof Clear

In the winter, snow covered roofs is normal, but that does not mean it is good. Snow and ice accumulating on a roof will weaken the roofing materials and encourage water damage. Make sure to take snow off your roof regularly in the winter.

 

Insulate All Exposed Pipes

If you can see it, insulate it. During winter, temperatures drop, especially when everyone leaves at night and there’s no heater running. Any pipe that’s exposed, is very likely to freeze. The water in these pipes will freeze also, building water pressure and leading to a burst pipe. Burst pipes are the leading cause for water damage. As such, make sure to insulate all exposed pipes.

 

Check Your Gutters And Drainage Systems Regularly

Your drainage systems cannot ever be problematic, otherwise they will lead to water damage, as the water will inevitably begin to seep into your walls. Always check your gutters for any debris that might be blocking it. Clean your gutters professionally very often also. This will reduce the chances of water damage to your building.

 

Check For Cracks In Walls And Seal Them Off

Cracks in the walls are your worst enemy and they should not be tolerated. These cracks allow cold air to go into the building and warm air escapes. The passage of air leaves traces of humidity which them sprouts mold, so make sure to seal every crack you can find.

 

Find Your Shut-Off Valve For Quick Action In Emergency

Be sure to familiarize yourself with the location of your building’s shut off valve for water supply. If there is an incident of a pipe breaking, you will want to know where your shut off valve is to stop the flow of water to the building until the problem is fixed.

 

Make Sure You Know the Value of Everything In Your Workplace

It is very important to know the value of all your workplace items so you can easily document them in insurance cases, and so you can easily replace them if they’re damaged in a water incident. It also helps so in a flooding situation, you know what to save from the water first. The most valuable things should be targeted and saved as soon as possible in such situations. Once you turn off the electricity, and turn off the leak, throw on a pair of rubber boots and gloves and dash for your most important property.

 

Make Sure Electricity Is Off

Electricity and water are a very deadly combination, so in fact the first thing to do once you see water damage is to go shut off the main power to make sure that nothing sparks, no circuits are shorted, and most importantly, that no one is electrocuted. You should always know where your power controls are, for easy shut off and on.

 

Have A Standby Professional To Call

It is important to have a water damage restoration company on your speed dial, so at the first sign of trouble, you know who to call. This could save you time and a lot of money, if you notice something is off and you alert Dry Effect quickly, they could step in and fix the problem before it leads to an even bigger problem.

 

Have Insurance

Insurance is important. Even in cases of prevention. Getting insurance is a preventive measure in itself. It prevents you from being taken by surprise in a nasty situation.

 

The Takeaway

Water damage is a huge threat to all buildings including your business, so make sure to take appropriate measures to protect yourself from the event of water damage.