The 4 Main Causes of Commercial Water Damage

11/27/2020 (Permalink)

Broken pipes can lead to severe water damage.

When business owners visualize water damage, they often picture a massive storm wiping out power lines, flooding offices, and shutting down businesses for days at a time. It is true that commercial water damage is often the result of water that stems from weather events and storms such as floods. However, many entrepreneurs and commercial renters forget that storms and severe weather aren’t the only causes of water damage.  Here are some of the typical causes of water damage to commercial buildings:

4 Common Causes of Commercial Water Damage

1. Malfunctioning sprinkler systems

Some older office and retail buildings still have outdated sprinkler systems that work in conjunction with fire protection systems.  While such sprinklers can come in handy during a fire emergency, they can also cause commercial flood damage if they are faulty or in need of replacement.  This could easily damage inventory and business assets.

2. Damaged appliances and equipment

This cause of commercial flood damage is more common in restaurants and catering facilities, as well as any business that has appliances and equipment that make use of water.  If the appliance fails and sends water across your building, especially during late hours when no one is around, you may come back to work and face a water emergency.

3. Broken pipes and plumbing

Just like in a residence, if the plumbing system in your workplace fails, water damage could be the result.

4. Backed up sewer lines

This is another cause of commercial water damage that often catches business owners by surprise. Should the sewer line to your building back up or become damaged, you could potentially have Black Water. The potential dangers of contaminated Blackwater are serious health risks and can ruin products and office furnishings.