HOW TO PREVENT LEAKS IN YOUR COMMERCIAL BUILDING

4/1/2019 (Permalink)

A leak in a commercial building can be costly. Not only could it cause thousands of dollars in damage and repairs, it could also shut down your company until the destruction can be fixed. To help prevent the worst from happening, use these tips to tackle plumbing maintenance in your building and ensure that you can keep business as usual.           

Maintenance matters

Regular maintenance can help you prevent leaks that can cost your company a lot of money and headaches. The more proactive you are about maintaining healthy pipes and plumbing, the less likely you'll be to experience a major leak that causes you to close your doors. Follow these maintenance tips to keep your plumbing systems in great shape:

• Inspect pipes regularly. A professional visual inspection of all pipes, faucets, toilet fixtures, and plumbing systems should be conducted at least quarterly. This can prevent plumbing failures before they become a serious issue.
• Upgrade pipes, faucets, and fittings that pose a risk to your commercial property. Updating old plumbing that can't handle high-volume usage can save you money in the long run.
• Pay close attention to your water heater and any filtration systems you have installed. These systems can cause big issues if they aren’t regularly maintained. Commercial water heaters, like residential ones, need regular maintenance to prevent leaks, system failures, and even explosions.

Prepare for emergencies before they happen

Small leaks are often simple to fix. However, if you don’t catch them right away, or more serious leaks are occurring in spots inside your building, an emergency preparedness plan can help you avoid costly damage. While making your own detailed emergency plan, keep these essential steps in mind:

• Identify an action plan. If employees notice a leak anywhere in the building, they should know to whom to communicate the issue, who should be responsible for shutting off water valves, and where important water systems are located throughout the building.
• Create an emergency contact sheet. This list should be easily accessible to all employees within the building. Include contact information for plumbers, building supervisors, other tenants, water mitigation damage services, and other people you may need to reach in case of emergency.
• Protect your data. Business owners should have data backed up to an external hard drive or a cloud-based system to ensure all assets are protected in an emergency.
• Determine off-site work locations. If the building has to close until repairs are complete, you may need to work remotely to keep business running. Employees and customers should be notified of temporary workspaces and working hours.

What to do if you have a plumbing leak

Maintenance and emergency preparation only go so far. When you've got a surprise leak, acting quickly and correctly can help you avoid serious damage to your commercial building. Follow these tips if notice a leak in your building:

• Turn the water off in that area or at the main shutoff valve. This can stop the immediate problem until repairs can be made.

• Block entry to and use of the area. Even slow leaks from faucets or toilet fixtures can become serious issues, especially in high-use areas like commercial buildings.
• Call your plumber to make repairs. Use your emergency contact sheet to notify everyone who needs to be aware of the issue, and try to get the plumber there as soon as possible.

Once the issue is resolved, you may be left with damage. Call a reputable restoration company, like SERVPRO to get your business back on its feet as quickly as possible.