Leaks in commercial buildings can be caused by a variety of factors, from weather conditions to faulty construction.
Regardless of the cause, it is important to be aware of these problem areas so that you can take steps to prevent leaks in your commercial building.
In this post, we will share the 4 most common types of leaks and how much they can end up costing you to fix them.
Common Types of Leaks in Commercial Buildings
Many of the most common causes of leaks in commercial buildings is due to faulty construction or low quality building materials.
This can include things like using the wrong type of materials, not properly sealing windows and doors, etc. All of these can lead to water seeping into your building and causing damage.
Unsurprisingly, the most common types of leaks are in places where the quality of materials matter the most.
The top 4 most common types of leaks in commercial buildings are:
Roof leaks
Window and door leaks
Pipe leaks
Foundation leaks
Unfortunately, regardless of the type of leak, you will likely face several thousand dollars of damage. That is why it is so important to detect leaks the second that they occur so that you have time to prevent or minimize the damage.
Roof leaks
A roof leak is one of the most common causes of leaks in a commercial building. Often, roof leaks are caused by a failure of the roofing material or poor drainage.
Poor drainage is when water isn’t properly diverted away from your building. This can allow it to seep into cracks and joints, causing significant damage over time.
Drainage-related issues are often caused by clogged gutters or downspouts, which can be easily fixed.If you do not fix these issues before they cause a leak, then you will likely need to pay for some or all of your roof to be replaced.
Most roof repairs cost between $400 and $1,000, however, a full roof replacement can cost as much as $8,000 or more!
Window and door leaks
Leaks around windows and doors are also common, especially in older buildings. This can be caused by poor sealing or caulking, worn-out weatherstripping, or damage to the window frame.
Luckily, these issues are usually caught very quickly as they are more noticeable to people in the building.
The cost to fix these types of leaks is very dependent on if the issue is structural or due to some sort of blockage. On average, it will cost you about $100 to repair a leaky window.
That is why we highly recommend installing a leak sensor to monitor for these kinds of issues.
A leak sensor is a small device that you place near water pipes and it will notify you if there is a leak. This can help you catch the issue early and prevent costly damage.
Pipe leaks
Leaks from pipes are often due to corrosion or improper installation. They can cause serious damage to a building if not repaired quickly.
Pipe leaks can be a very big problem as most pipes are in hard-to-reach places. This means that these leaks often go undetected until the damage has already been done.
The cost range on these can vary, but you will be surprised to learn that the average cost to repair a leaky pipe is only $150- $350! That's because the real costs come from repairing the damage done to the surrounding drywall, which can easily run you an extra $250-$750.
Fixture and appliance leaks
Many common commercial building appliances can cause leaks that would surprise you! At Perceptive Things®, we've seen all sorts of leaks in office spaces that come from some of the smallest appliances.
Even something as simple as a coffee machine that has been plugged in over the weekend can cause several thousand dollars in damage! All it takes is one malfunction or poorly timed automation to destroy all of your equipment and furniture.
The cost of fixing a fixture or appliance link largely depends on how much of the area was impacted and how for how long. These leaks can cost everything from a few hundred dollars to several thousand to fix.
Preventing leaks in commercial buildings
It is important to note that many leaks in commercial buildings are actually preventable. One of the best things you can do to prevent water damage is to install a leak sensor.
Leak sensors are placed in strategic locations throughout your building and will alert you if they detect any moisture. This can allow you to quickly fix the problem before it causes significant damage.
For commercial buildings, we recommend our Droplet Pro™ leak sensor. The Droplet Pro™ is durable and uses a 3 meter rope to detect moisture along its length. With custom sizes covering as long as 100 meters, our Droplet Pro™ is well equipped to protect even the largest commercial buildings.
Final thoughts on the common types of leaks in commercial buildings
We hope this article has helped you understand some of the most common types of leaks in commercial buildings. As you can see, many of these leaks are actually quite preventable.
By installing a leak sensor, you can rest assured knowing that you will be alerted as soon as any moisture is detected. This can help you avoid costly repairs and save your business money in the long run.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our products, please feel free to contact us. We would be more than happy to help!
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