Leading Causes of Water Damage to Indianapolis Businesses

4/25/2018 (Permalink)

Leading Causes of Water Damage to Indianapolis Businesses

While there are some similarities between the leading causes of water damage to Indianapolis businesses and Indianapolis homes, there are also some distinct differences. Below we will cover the top five main causes of water damage to commercial properties. Some are unpreventable, while there are others that business owners can take steps to reduce the risk of.

Severe Weather

With the warmer weather in the springtime and summer, comes severe storms. These storms can bring with them high winds and sometimes tornadoes. With strong winds and tornadic activity; roofs, windows, and exterior walls can sustain severe damage allowing water to enter the commercial property.

If there’s just a small leak, it can sometimes take a while before the leak is detected. This could be troublesome as the delay in detection could allow mold to grow and go undetected. The good thing, if there is such a thing, is that the water from rain is usually much less dirty than water from other common causes of water damage, like sewers. The cleaner water, while still capable of promoting mold growth, usually happens more slowly due to the lack of bacteria in the water.

Broken Refrigerator and/or Dishwasher

Every office usually has a break room with a refrigerator and sometimes a dishwasher. Just like at home, these two appliances can malfunction and/or break causing water to leak or sometimes pour from them. While the water is usually clean since it usually originates from the water supply pipes, it can still cause extensive damage to a business. This is especially true if the leak happens over the weekend or at night when no one is there. It’s always a good idea to occasionally check around the dishwasher and/or fridge for any water leaks in order to catch and repair them before they have the potential to cause further damage.

Sewer Backup

Sewer backups not only cause severe water damage to Indianapolis businesses but also severe damage from mold growth. While rainwater and broken water pipes can be a mess, the dirty bacteria-infested water from sewers can quickly promote mold growth if not treated quickly. Sewer backups can be caused by severe rains and flooding of the public sewer system around the business. They can also be caused by clogged and broken pipes inside the business.

While you can’t do much to prevent the public sewer system from backing up into your business, you can reduce the risk of an internal issue like a clog or broken/leaking pipe. It’s a good idea to visually inspect any visible sewer pipes as well as the area around toilets on a regular basis. If you notice water collecting or slow draining drains, fix it before it backups completely and causes extensive damage.

Damaging Fire Sprinkler Heads

Most businesses have fire sprinkler systems installed throughout their buildings. While they are designed to put out fires, fire sprinklers can also cause water damage to commercial properties as a result of human error and/or severe cold temperatures. In areas where sprinkler heads are exposed, they can easily be broken by employees carrying ladders or tall items and accidentally hitting sprinkler heads. A broken fire sprinkler head can quickly cause a lot of water damage to a business.

The other cause of water damage from fire sprinkler systems is when the sprinkler pipes are exposed to freezing temperatures and burst. It’s important to be aware of sprinkler heads when carrying ladders or items that could hit the sprinkler heads. It’s also important to make sure that the sprinkler pipes aren’t exposed to freezing temperatures by making sure windows and doors are shut completely.

Overflowing Toilet

The last main cause of water damage to Indianapolis businesses is an overflowing toilet. This is especially common in businesses where the public can use your bathroom. While most employees would quickly try to fix an overflowing toilet if it occurred, a visitor to your business may try to sneak away feeling embarrassed or not caring that they made the toilet overflow. The water from an overflowing toilet could also be dirty like the water from a sewer backup which can quickly promote mold growth if not discovered in time.  

What to Do If You Experience Water Damage to Your Indianapolis Business

If you should suffer water damage or mold damage to your Indianapolis business, it’s important to stop the water if possible and call the Indianapolis water damage and mold remediation experts at SERVPRO of Indianapolis West as soon as possible. They’ll be able to quickly remove the water and repair the damage. Contact SERVPRO of Indianapolis West online or call them at 317-243-3149 if your business should suffer from water damage.