What are the risks of commercial water damage?

12/17/2021 (Permalink)

Blog summary: The SERVPRO blog talks about the risks of water damage that can impact a business.

The risks of commercial water damage 

Water damage to commercial buildings has a more widespread impact than in residential buildings. The reasons are a larger area, the complexity of the mechanical systems, more people or employees, and more expensive machines compared to homes. This entails higher restoration costs for businesses that often struggle with remediating these costs. Therefore it’s important to know more about the risks when trying to tackle water damage. SERVPRO shares how water damage can impact commercial establishments. 

1. Property and Equipment Loss

Water damage can severely impact a business, especially if there is valuable equipment concerned. 

• Most businesses use electronics for payment, stock-keeping, or managing employee hours that can be expensive to replace or repair. 
• Larger items, like custom workstations or specialized manufacturing equipment, can prove to be a huge loss as they may be harder to replace due to special customization or limited stock. 
• Water damage also can damage things like stock or supplies needed for normal operations.
• Other potential losses may include parts of the structure like drywall, ceiling, flooring, or fixtures that may be irreplaceable depending on the structure or age of the building.

1. Occupant Health and Safety

Water in commercial spaces damages not just property and equipment but is also hazardous to the occupants.  

• Wet areas increase the risk of workplace accidents due to faulty equipment, slippery floors, or unstable structures impacted by moisture.
• Secondary water damage such as mold can worsen the situation if the water damage is not addressed in time. Mold is considered to have severe health effects for human beings who spend a lot of time working around the affected areas.
• Contaminated water due to water leaks can also be a biohazard. Gray water from sources like sinks, dishwashers, washing machines, and showers can be a health hazard. In worst cases, black water or sewage water from toilets can cause severe health problems such as nausea. 
• The health of every occupant from tenant and customer to supplier or employee, can be affected by contaminated water and eventually affect the reputation of the establishment. 

1. Financial Costs

The biggest risks in situations of commercial water damage are the long-term and short-term financial costs.

• Rental properties impacted by a water damage incident will incur a loss of lease income from tenants who cannot occupy a damaged property. 
• Retail businesses lose revenue or time in terms of operating hours when the establishment and its equipment become damaged or unsafe to use.
• Profits are expended in repairing the water damage caused. These could include insurance deductible payments if covered by a policy, or potentially uncovered losses that won’t be fully covered by insurance.
• The claims processes and repair projects are time-consuming and tedious tasks. The time a property owner is required to spend away from the business to take care of these repair and claims processes is a loss of money.  

Catching water damage early and remediating it sooner than later will mitigate these 

risks. For swift and efficient water damage restoration services, commercial property owners can contact SERVPRO and its team of licensed and experienced technicians.

Why SERVPRO?

• SERVPRO uses state-of-the-art equipment to bring the damaged property back to its original state. SERVPRO of Grapevine/NE Tarrant County is constantly updating its fleet and equipment so clients in Southlake, Grapevine, Keller, or surrounding areas can quickly access the services. 

• With over 1,700 US and Canadian Franchise locations, SERVPRO is strategically positioned to respond faster to an emergency of any magnitude.

• The SERVPRO staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. They receive initial in-house training and constant skill up-gradation at the corporate training facility and also acquire the regular IICRC-industry certification.

For commercial water damage restoration, call SERVPRO of Grapevine/NE Tarrant County today at (817) 595-2506 or e-mail at office@SERVPROheb.com