A leaking pipe can be a big problem anywhere. In a family home, it could damage furniture, heirlooms, and appliances. And post-flood damage would likely include mold remediation and replacing soiled building materials.
Now, imagine the extent of water damage in an office, warehouse, apartment building, or hotel. High-end equipment may be damaged or destroyed, and employees may be forced to stop working while water removal and repairs are ongoing. Employees may even get sick due to lingering issues long after the initial event.
So, how can you protect your commercial property from water damage while also safeguarding your workforce against associated health hazards? Let’s take a look.
What Is Commercial Water Damage in Tennessee?
Commercial water damage is one of the most expensive problems in commercial and industrial spaces. It happens when water leaks from burst pipes or when water intrudes into your structure from other sources.
It can be hard to notice a leak in commercial or industrial structures because of the sheer size of the space. A water leak may occur for days or weeks before anyone notices it, compounding the damage until it’s too late.
But leaky pipes are only one form of water damage. Other common sources include:
- Roof leaks
- Toilet pipe leaks
- HVAC leaks
- Malfunctioning sprinklers
- Malfunctioning water heaters
- Machinery leaks
- Damaged water tanks
- Sewer backups
As soon as you notice water damage in your commercial space, call a professional water restoration company. Waiting another day or even another hour could be catastrophic for your business and your employees.
Effects of Commercial Water Damage
Water damage can be disastrous even when it seems minor. Unfortunately, the damage is not limited to just one area. Every minute we wait, water is finding new ways through floors, into walls, and down ceilings, affecting everything from steel beams to electrical wires.
Standing Water
Even small trickles can add up to damaging pools. Standing water raises the humidity level in your structure, encouraging mold and mildew growth. Additionally, higher-than-average humidity levels indoors can cause off-gassing—a phenomenon when building materials (like laminated timber or insulation) release toxic fumes.
Flood Damage
Flood damage can be very costly. First, it weakens the foundation of the building. Second, it can damage expensive commercial equipment, flooring, and other items within the building. Third, damage to the plumbing can be very complicated. Flood damage needs to be addressed with urgency to prevent a cascading effect in your commercial property.
Repair Expense
Flood damage recovery comes at a large cost. Water removal is crucial, and you will need to call in a water removal company or rent restoration equipment. Your plumbing system, flooring, and walls must be repaired or replaced. Any damaged equipment will need to be repaired as well.
Experienced water damage restoration companies can help you communicate with insurance providers for a better outcome overall. There are three parties in every water damage scenario—the property owner (you), the damage restoration company, and your insurance adjuster. Frequent, transparent communication between all three parties is best for all involved.
Health Risks
Even when standing water has been removed from the space, there is still moisture left in some parts of the building. These moist areas are hotspots for mold and mildew to set in, and any growth can be dangerous to employees’ health. They can cause allergic reactions and respiratory conditions in even healthy adults, to say nothing of sensitive groups like those with asthma and allergies.
What To Do During Commercial Water Damage
Keep employees’ health a priority by calling experts in emergency response and recovery when you experience commercial water damage. You may think you can solve the problem because water removal seems easy enough when you have a janitorial service.
But removing moisture from surfaces and the air is only one aspect of professional water removal. Advanced Structural Drying Technology (ASDT) provides the following water damage mitigation services following commercial water damage:
- Standing Water Removal: The longer water stands in an area, the more damage it will do to your building’s foundation and everything the water touches.
- Structural Drying: Using scientifically proven methods and the latest restoration equipment, ASDT will dry everything before mold and mildew set in.
- Dehumidification: Structural drying is best paired with dehumidification to prevent mold and mildew growth.
- Thermal Inspections: To ensure there is no more moisture in the affected parts of your building, we use thermal imaging technology to look behind walls and under floors without destructive means.
- Disinfection Services: Who knows what type of bacteria and germs the leak and flood have brought to the building? Thorough disinfection services are in order.
Call Professionals for Commercial Water Damage Mitigation in Tennessee
When faced with work stoppages, health hazards, OSHA violations, and the other consequences of water damage, the best solution for your business is the safest and swiftest one. At ASDT, we’ve helped commercial property owners recover after water damage strikes. From Memphis to Jackson, Nashville to Chattanooga, we help the Volunteer State dry out so that it can get back to business.
Keep flood damage under control and ensure workforce safety in Tennessee with Advanced Structural Drying Technologies. Contact us today for emergency water damage restoration or call 615-632-6630.
Don’t Risk Your Health, Your Employees, Or Your Bottom Line—Call Us!
Water damage may look simple—nothing that a pile of rags or a Shop-Vac can’t solve. But the reality is much different. At Advanced Structural Drying Technology, we used advanced water damage restoration equipment to remove moisture from surfaces and the air itself. We’re also happy to support your restoration project with your insurance adjuster and walk you through next steps every step of the way. Give us a call today at 615-632-6630 or contact us online. With ASDT on your side, recovering from water damage is swift, affordable, and easy.
