The success of your business will depend on a lot of things, one of them being the structural integrity of your premises. You don’t want to let anything affect how your shop, apartment complex, or commercial arcade operates in a safe manner. This is why you need to do everything you can to prevent water damage since it can ruin your enterprise. You can do this by following a few tips that are easy to implement and using accessible tools and services.
The worst thing about water damage is that it can be insidious since it is often under the surface. The problems that it causes doesn’t become obvious right away since it causes rotting materials from the inside out. When you do come across surface water leaks and the like, the damage it causes can seem slow and non-threatening. Given enough time, though, it can bring down even the biggest structures or at least make them unusable. Below we look at a few ways you can prevent water leakage from damaging your business premises
Insulating Surface Pipes
Surface or exposed pipes are the most vulnerable when there are sudden and extreme temperature changes in the immediate environment. Examples include blizzards, winter nights, and increased heat from sources of fire near the exposed pipes. When this happens, the pipes could either contract or expand faster than the materials are able to handle. This would then add pressure and stress, which would then cause cracks or gaps in the pipes.
This is why it would be a good idea to insulate these exposed pipes if needed. If your business is located in an area where winters can be brutal, this should be a priority for you. This is both to make sure that the pipes will not burst and to ensure a consistent supply of water. If the pipes get damaged in the middle of winter, it can be a nightmare to get them fixed.
Managing Heat Levels
Water systems come with thermostats for a reason, particularly those that carry steam for heating or hot showers. This is to make sure that the temperature is kept constant or as constant as possible for your needs. It should also be noted that the pipes that carry this hot water are made for a specific temperature range. If this range is exceeded for any reason, this could compromise the integrity of the pipe materials and cause cracks.
The key to doing this well is by checking the thermostat on a constant basis, even during the weekends. A quick visit should be enough once a day so that you can see what the temperature of the pipes is. There is also the option to have wireless sensors integrated into the thermostat and connected to your smartphone. This would then give you a notification if the safe temperature range has been exceeded or is close to being exceeded.
Thorough Inspection
There is something to be said about keeping every aspect of the water system as clean as possible. This includes the drains, the pipes, the filters, the tanks, and the valves that are part of the network. You need to do this to ensure that there won’t be any blockages or build-up of gunk. Doing so can reduce the chances of pressure rising to unmanageable degrees, which would then threaten the pipes.
Having your water system cleaned on a regular basis would be recommended, with larger buildings requiring more frequent cleaning. Creating a schedule for this would make things easier, as well, and act as a reminder of what you need to do. Hiring professionals for the job would be the ideal choice since you want this done right. It would be an extensive job that requires special skills, which you might not have without the right training.
Installing High-Quality Pipes and Valves
When it comes to preventing water damage from occurring, in the first place, using high-quality pipes and valves is advised. Replacing old pipes with new ones would be a great way to put your mind at ease. You won’t have to deal with that possibility and it would be a worthy investment to keep your business operational. There’s also the matter of extending the lifespan of your entire water delivery system, to begin with.
As for valves, it would also be encouraged to get the best if you can manage it for your business. There are some excellent ones to be found on the market for a wide variety of uses. You could even get in touch with a reputable China industrial valves manufacturer to get them in bulk and save some money while at it.. Most of the valves on the market come from China anyway, so you might as well get them for cheap, click here for more information.
Sealing Cracks
If the option to replace the pipes and valves is not doable, the next best thing is sealing the cracks. Any damage that you find with the exposed pipes and valves will need to be covered up right away. When you find those cracks or the signs that there are about to be cracks, water damage is imminent. If you fail to address those issues while you still can, the costs could be even bigger.
If the cracks are minor and there aren’t too many of them, you can do the job yourself. If they are too big and too extensive, though, be sure to get a professional to do it. This will ensure that the job is done right.
Conclusion
Water damage can cause you a lot of problems with your business. Addressing the matter as soon as you can, will save you money and a lot of hassle later. The tips provided here will help you do that and with relative ease, as well. Keep these points in mind and you can protect your interests.