Autumn is officially here. All the fall leaves and pumpkins may be lovely, but autumn also signals something else: hurricane season.
Hurricane season means heavy rains, winds, and potential exterior damage to your business. Fallen limbs, roof repairs, and flooded basements are obvious issues. However, there may be hidden signs of water damage that you are missing! Left untreated, these hidden types of water damage can eventually cripple your business.
Here are 5 ways that water damage may have happened in your business — without you even noticing!
1. Failed Waterproofing
Don’t ignore superficial leaks! They can be a sign that your waterproofing mechanisms are failing.
Signs that your waterproofing may be failing include:
- Mold
- Damp areas on the wall or floor
- Rust or stains
- Peeling paint
- Musty odor
- Cracked walls
- Wood rot
Since waterproofing is often very difficult to access and prone to damage, it is important to hire professionals who can determine the cause of the leak, assess the extent of the damage, and then quickly and effectively remedy the damage. If you or your staff try to remedy the waterproofing issue on your own, you can trap the moisture and make the problem even worse!
2. HVAC Water Damage
The HVAC system (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) in your business leverages huge amounts of water and can therefore cause severe water damage if it fails. Regular maintenance of the drains, coils, and pipes can prevent some issues.
However, sometimes the installation of the HVAC system was faulty. We have seen cases where AC units dripped water into the walls and vents of a commercial business. When an HVAC system leaks water because of the design or installation, the entire system, including the sprinklers, has to be replaced. This can be costly and time-consuming.
However, the sooner the problem is discovered, the less damage is done to the rest of your business facility.
3. Waste Water Flooding
No one ever wants to experience wastewater flooding. Even when a wastewater system is clog-free, issues can still arrive. For example, wastewater can exit the pipe at such a high velocity that it erodes the stones around the exit. In these cases, the pipes must be adjusted to reduce the water speed. Then the stones must also be replaced and reworked so that the wastewater is removed effectively from the structure.
Reworking an entire wastewater removal system is not for the fainthearted. It is best to call in the professionals so that any additional water damage is caught before more issues arise.
Call us at 336-893-5901 if you are noticing wastewater is beginning to pool around (or even flooding!) your building.
4. Hidden Mold
Water damage is inextricably linked with mold. Mold thrives on moisture. While you may be used to fighting mold in bathrooms and entrance ways, mold can hide in places you don’t normally see, such as behind wallpaper or underneath the carpet.
Mold isn’t just an aesthetic issue. Mold can cause all kinds of health issues. Often the longer-term solution to mold issues is addressing moisture in the home or business, or mold will return.
Learn more about how to address mold issues in our post here.
5. Unseen Structural Damage
Each of the above types of water damage can lead to unseen structural damage. Even a minor leak can lead to wood rot, warped floors, sagging beams, weakened drywall, or rusting pipes. Even worse, water damage inside the walls of your business can lead to electrical problems, which in turn becomes a fire hazard! Having a professional on your side when addressing water damage when it happens will make sure that any structural damage is recognized and repaired.
One of the biggest challenges with flooding and water damage is having to close down your business during the necessary repairs. When that happens, it’s not simply a matter of the cost of the repairs. Your business is now facing the loss of visibility with your customers and potential lags in your services or order fulfillment. Even business insurance can’t alleviate all the financial strain on your business when you have to close for water damage repairs.
At A-1 Restoration, we handle emergency restoration projects of all kinds. We know that when water damage happens (or is discovered), you need help IMMEDIATELY. Whatever the source of the water damage, we will address the leak promptly, drying the affected areas, and estimate the extent of the repairs needed.
Call us at 336-893-5901 to get any water damage repaired and your business back on track ASAP.
