Top Strategies to Prevent Winter Water Damage to Your Logan Square, IL, Business

While busted frozen pipes and ice dams are two ways that water damage can make a very unwelcome appearance at your Logan Square, Chicago office or other type of business this winter, they’re not the only potential culprits. Pipes, pumps and even parking lots are all areas that could cause water damage in your workplace if you don’t maintain them properly throughout the year. If water damage does occur, the initial steps to take include shutting off the troublesome water source, calling your insurance company, and immediately contacting ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons for high-quality and all-encompassing water damage restoration.

• Your parking lot. Parking lots collect a great deal of snow melt and runoff water and are designed to deliver this water to a drainage system. However, that doesn’t always happen if your drains become clogged with ice, litter, organic matter, or other debris, according to the West Bend Mutual Insurance Company. To prevent water damage, regularly inspect all drains and clean them if necessary. After storms or thaws, inspect them carefully for blockages and make sure that snow piles are not placed directly over or too close to the drains.
• Your pipes and interior drains. Common sources of water damage include overflow or leakage from common appliances, including the water heater, clothes washer, dishwasher, refrigerator, and air conditioning unit. To prevent water damage, make sure that the water supply line to your appliances are secure and do regular maintenance to clear clogged drains.
• Your sump pump. These devices are a great way to remove the excess water that collects beneath your building. No matter what type of sump pump you have, it acts as a last line of defense against water seeping into the basement of your facility. Make sure to routinely check that the sump pump is plugged in and functional. It is also recommended that you equip your sump pump with a back-up generator that will kick in if your facility loses power.
• Your gutters and down spouts. Gutters are constructed to gather water runoff from the roof of your business and transport it to the downspout. Check them regularly and clean them if they’re clogged with debris. Downspouts should extend out from the building to carry water away from the foundation.

Finally, if your neighborhood sees excessive amounts of snow this winter and your roof does not have a steep pitch, consider raking the snow off of it or hiring someone to do this for you.

If you find yourself in need of fast, reliable

water damage

restoration in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood,

call

ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons immediately at 773-376-1110. After all, swift action is needed to reduce the severity of the water damage situation you’re facing in your place of business.