The Hidden Cost of Leaks in Commercial Buildings: How to Detect and Prevent Them

Commercial building managers often overlook the importance of water leaks. They are often seen as a mere nuisance, as a result, they are often left unchecked. This small example of a cavalier attitude might initially seem harmless but can become a huge problem. Therefore, always having a team of professionals might help you with the job. 

Water damage is like a ticking time bomb. They might not damage your building instantaneously, but leaving them unchecked has serious consequences. In extreme cases, it can result in loss of life and money.

Therefore, in this article about water leak detection for commercial buildings, we will prioritize the importance of water leak detection and how to deal with it. 

The True Cost of Water Damage in Commercial Properties

The ripple effects of water damage can be extensive, from ruined drywall and flooring to compromised electrical systems and mold infestations. Therefore, water damage can affect a building’s integrity. 

Statistics shared by insurance companies show that water damage claims are some of the most expensive and common claims that commercial properties make. Therefore, we will examine the financial aspect of water damage to commercial buildings.

Financial Consequences

1. Repair Costs: Water damage can affect several building components like the drywall, electric lines, etc. Therefore, fixing water damage often comes with ancillary fixes as well. As a result, the cost is pushed higher.
2. Business Disruption: Water damages are not at all easy to fix. This is primarily because they take time and can be extensive. As a result, you need to take the time to fix these damages. Which in turn can affect the business process. In some cases, it even perpetuates business disruption. 
3. Increased Insurance Premiums: The most annoying part of water damage is its recurrent nature. If a pipe leaks, it will never return to its original state. This means that you will have to fix it regularly, which means you will have to pay extra premiums. 
4. Decreased Property Value: As we have said, water damage can be extensive. Sometimes, it becomes impossible to fix. As a result, these damages are not just hazards in terms of safety and finances. They are also detrimental to property value. Properties with extensive water damage might lose value on the market. 

Common Sources of Leaks in Commercial Buildings

The term water damage is just an umbrella term. This means water damages come in several shapes and sizes. Therefore, the best and most effective means of dealing with water damage is understanding the kind you are dealing with.

In this section, we will look at some of the primary culprits that can lead to major-scale water damage to commercial property. Let’s go!

1. Plumbing Failures:
   • Broken or corroded pipes
   • Faulty faucets or fixtures
   • Malfunctioning water heaters
2. Roof Leaks:
   • Damaged shingles or flashing
   • Poor drainage systems
   • Heavy rain or snow accumulation
3. HVAC Systems:
   • Blocked condensation lines
   • Worn-out seals
   • Improper maintenance
4. Appliance Failures:
   • Overflowing dishwashers
   • Malfunctioning washing machines
   • Defective ice makers
5. Exterior Issues:
   • Poorly sealed windows or doors
   • Cracks in the building’s foundation
   • Clogged gutters or downspouts

How to Detect Water Leaks Early

To deal with water damage, you must show readiness or be proactive. This is the only way you can deal with water damage. Therefore, consider starting from there and complementing this approach with some more practices improving water damage detection for commercial buildings:

1. Monitor Water Bills: Keep a close eye on your water bills. A sudden or abnormal spike in water usage might be a red flag. Therefore, assess and understand your requirements and see if the water bill reflects them. 
2. Inspect Regularly: As a commercial building manager, you should make it a habit to inspect the water system regularly. Ensure that the HVAC, the plumbing, and other parts of the water system are in perfect working condition. 
3. Install Water Leak Detection Systems: There are several water damage detectors that you can get from the market. These detectors can help you detect water damage and stop it in its tracks. 
4. Check Exterior Areas: Sometimes, improper drainage systems can also cause extensive water damage. Therefore, you must check the interior and exterior drainage systems for clogs and chokepoints. 
5. Monitor Humidity Levels: A sudden rise in humidity level inside the building is another marker of water damage. Therefore, humidity levels should be assessed to understand the efficiency of the water system in a commercial building.
6. Get a Professional: Consider hiring a professional to get the job done effectively. Plumbing experts can help you detect water leaks more efficiently. Therefore, take aid of professionals.

Preventing Water Damage in Commercial Buildings

Early water leak detection for commercial buildings is the best and most trusted way of dealing with water damage. However, in some cases, the symptoms show late. So what can you do?

Here, we will look at some of the means that can help you prevent and even detect mass-scale water damage. Follow along to know more. 

Regular Maintenance

The foremost thing that you must do is to have a maintenance schedule. Regular maintenance keeps the system functional and even helps detect water damage as it is happening. 

Upgrade Infrastructure

Pipes, faucets, HVAC systems, etc., come with an expiry date. However, commercial buildings ignore this notion. Therefore, you must consider upgrading the infrastructure from time to time. Otherwise, you risk wearing the system out and causing mass-scale water damage.

Seal Vulnerable Areas

Hire experts and assess the pain points of water systems. In other words, the expert’s knowledge is used to understand the parts that need attention and seal them off for the general public. This will help you do damage control. 

Educate Tenants and Staff

Train building occupants to recognize signs of leaks and report them promptly. Awareness can go a long way in early detection.

Install Smart Systems

Automated water shut-off systems are used to prevent extensive damage. As a result, these systems can detect unusual water flow patterns and shut off the supply, minimizing the impact of a leak.

The Role of Commercial Property Insurance in Water Damage

Accidents can happen at any time. Even though you can give prevention a swing, things might lead to accidents at any point in time. As a result, commercial property insurance covers water damage extensively.

However, you need to understand the terms and conditions of the policy. Read the fine print carefully and understand the types of coverage your insurance gives. Generally, the insurance covers incidents like burst pipes, water seepage, etc.  However, they do not cover general wear and tear due to usage. 

Key Considerations

1. Understand Exclusions: Carefully review what types of water damage your policy covers and excludes.
2. Document Maintenance Efforts: Keeping records of inspections and repairs can demonstrate due diligence, which may support insurance claims.
3. Work with Trusted Vendors: Collaborate with licensed professionals for repairs and mitigation to ensure insurance compliance.

Why Addressing Water Damage Matters

Water damage can affect the integrity of your commercial building. Therefore, you must address this issue post haste. This is because water damage not only becomes costly but also raises concerns for the safety of the people. 

Water damage can short-circuit electricity. As a result, the chances of electrocution increase. It also raises concerns about mold growth. Therefore, water damage can be detrimental if left unchecked. 

The best way to deal with the problem is to implement preventative measures. However, implement sustainable solutions as they can be continued for an extended period. Hence, keep this in mind before you commit to preventative measures for handling water damage. 

Don’t Drown

In summation, these are some of the points that you need to remember if you want to deal with water damage in a sustainable manner. These details become important as water damage can have long-term detrimental effects on a building.

These long-term effects are not just financial. These also raise health concerns like disease and other hazards. Therefore, water damage must be dealt with as soon as possible; otherwise, you are simply opening yourself up to a world of problems. 

If you liked this content on water leak detection in commercial buildings, please leave us feedback. This feedback will help us curate more effective and better content for you in the feature. Follow us for more. 

Read Also:

• Why It’s Important and How Leaf Electrical Safety Can Help
• Magnet And Amplifier Power Systems: How Are They Used?
• The Critical Role of Plumbing and Electrical Systems in Pool Construction