Preventing water damage in your commercial building does not have to be a headache!
The key is to be proactive in performing preventative maintenance, installing an early detection system, and preparing your team with an action plan. As with most things in life, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
In this article, we will share tips on how to prevent water damage in your commercial building without breaking the bank.
Perform Preventive Maintenance
Performing preventive maintenance for water leak damage in commercial buildings requires a systematic approach to identifying and addressing potential water leak risks before they escalate.
Below are some tips for water preventive maintenance you might want to perform.
Review the plumbing system
Inspect the pipes and other parts of the plumbing system for signs of corrosion, wear, or leaks, and address any issues before they escalate. Ideally, you should inspect plumbing and mechanical systems a few times throughout the year.
After inspecting, add water leak sensors around toilets and sinks as well as in any office kitchens.
Inspect the roof
You should regularly inspect the roof of your commercial building for leaks, damaged or missing shingles, etc.
Also, be sure to clear debris, such as branches and leaves, from around downspouts and gutters to ensure proper drainage.
Seal doors and windows
Check the seals around your doors and windows for cracks and gaps. If you find any openings, seal them to prevent water intrusion.
Sealing and insulating your windows and doors will also help with regulating the temperature in the building, potentially saving you money in terms of heating and cooling costs.
Check the landscaping and grading
Ensure the ground around your commercial building slopes away from the foundation to stop water from pooling. If it doesn't, it might be worth investing in regrading the area since this can create high-risk areas where the walls touch the ground.
Although the upfront cost could be steep, it may help you prevent costlier bills related to cleaning up leaks or flooding after the fact.
Inspect the foundation
Ensure there is proper drainage around the foundation of your commercial building and maintain or install a sump pump if necessary. Proper drainage is particularly important for buildings with a basement below ground level.
If you need to remedy poor drainage around your building, it's better to take those steps right away versus waiting for a major water issue to damage your building and property.
Maintain the HVAC system
Regularly change the HVAC filters to prevent water backup and clogs. Experts recommend changing air filters at least every three months.
Whether you choose to do this yourself or make it the responsibility of a maintenance team member, make sure this task is done according to schedule.
Install an Early Detection System
The best way to prevent water damage in a commercial building is by installing an early detection system. Check out the video below to learn how our water leak sensors can save you money and provide peace of mind.
The unfortunate reality is that most buildings are susceptible to water leaks, regardless of how old the building is. Installing water leak sensors is often one of the easiest ways to reduce your costs when it comes to potential water damage.
A detection system notifies you of leaks long before they are observable to your naked eye. This allows you to address the issue promptly in real-time before the water damage gets out of control.
We recommend installing leak detection systems in the vulnerable locations inside your commercial building.
At Perceptive Things®, we have some of the most durable and powerful sensors on the market. They're very effective at detecting even the most minor water leak and will alert you within seconds so you can take action promptly.
We have some of the best leak detection systems that you can use. The most popular ones are the Droplet Pro™ and the Droplet Duo™, both of which you can easily install yourself.
Droplet Pro™ by Perceptive Things®
The Droplet Pro™ is an industrial-grade, 3-meter rope sensor that can detect the presence of moisture along its entire length.
The sensor body has internal magnets, so you can mount the unit to iron surfaces like mechanical equipment or beams.
Droplet Duo™ by Perceptive Things®
The Droplet Duo™ dual-probe water leak sensor comes pre-configured for your property and is a breeze to install.
Each sensor body and probe includes 3M adhesive pads for secure attachment to surfaces.
Prepare Your Team
Having an emergency response system in place should be a high priority when it comes to preventing water damage in your commercial building.
Here are key elements you might want to consider when preparing your team:
Designate an emergency response team. Train your staff members and designate an emergency response team with clearly defined duties and roles. For example, who will respond to the tenants' alerts, who will receive water leak sensor updates, and so on.
Gather your emergency contacts. Maintain an updated emergency contacts list, including water damage restoration professionals, local authorities, your insurance company, and the relevant utility companies.
Conduct training and drills. Conduct regular emergency response drills and training sessions with your staff. You should also ensure your team is familiar with emergency evacuation procedures and routes.
Design a communication plan. Establish a clear communication plan to efficiently and quickly relay information among team members.
Have an Action Plan in Place
A strong action plan for preventing water damage in commercial buildings combines both emergency preparedness and proactive measures.
Here are some action plans you might want to have in place to prevent water damage in your commercial building:
Risk assessment plan: You should have a comprehensive plan for identifying potential water leak sources in and around your commercial building.
Regular maintenance schedule or plan: Develop a maintenance plan or schedule for critical components, such as pumping, downspouts, gutters, roofing, and appliances.
Emergency response plan: You should have a comprehensive emergency damage response plan outlining the key steps you and your team will take in the event of major damage, like a water leak in your commercial building.
Final Thoughts on Preventing Water Damage in a Commercial Building
Commercial buildings in particular can benefit from preventative measures due to the heavy foot traffic. We hope this post helped clarify some of the ways you might begin taking action to protect your building from water damage!
Remember that you do not need to implement an action plan all at once. You also do not need to rely solely on your team to detect issues within your building!
If you’re interested in learning more about how water leak sensors can help prevent water damage in your commercial building, please reach out to us at contact@perceptivethings.com.
What steps do you take to prevent leaks in your commercial building? Do they include creating an action plan for your staff? We would love to know about them via the comments section!
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