How To Prevent Property Water Damage

It is estimated by The Association of British Insurers that insurers pay out around a staggering £1.8 million per day for water damage claims. 

The result of water damage to properties is truly devastating and often very costly, for residential properties or for those with business premises.

Your whole business operations can come to a standstill overnight as a result of damage to the building and business equipment, computers, furniture, fittings or stock that are inside. The water damage clean-up operation afterwards can also add to the business interruption.

If your business premises is located in a multi-storey or multi-occupancy building such as office blocks, retail outlets or hospitals, the risk can be multiplied due to the number of water outlets throughout the building, such as sinks, toilets, showers, and air conditioning systems.

What are the typical causes of water damage?

Insurers QBE advise:

There can be many causes of a leak – from changes in temperature or water pressure, general wear and tear, or poor workmanship.

 Water damage incidents typically involve the following:

• Blocked toilets, sinks and drains
• Burst pipes, often below ground or in the screed level of floors
• Radiators and heating system leaks
• Air conditioning system leaks
• Water tank faults, including ballcock valves that don’t fully close off
• Leaking shower cubicle trays, baths, basins and taps
• Leaking pipe joints and connectors on washing machines, dishwashers and water softeners
• Faulty sprinkler systems due to leaking fittings or damaged sprinkler heads

Many modern buildings will have plumbing pipework concealed behind walls, so with water leaking unseen it can take days, weeks or longer for a problem to make itself known.  This usually appears as damp patches, black mould and, in the worst cases, fungi growth.

What steps can your business take to prevent water damage?

Insurers QBE advise:

• Always make sure that any work is carried out by competent, certified contractors.
• Adopt a programme of carrying out periodic checks on pipe joints, seals and overflows on toilets, sinks, tanks and showers and other water outlets. 
• Report any small leaks before they turn into a bigger problem.
• Cold weather can lead to frozen and burst pipes, so check that pipes and water tanks that may be exposed to colder temperatures have sufficient lagging.
• Consider installing a leak detection system, which will monitor use of water throughout the property, raising an alarm to the occupant or remotely. The alarm can also be used to shut off the water if it detects any unusual activity.
• Educate staff and customers about what not to put down drains and toilets. Cooking fats, oils, baby wipes, nappies and sanitary products can all cause blockages.
• If the presence of a leak is suspected, infra-red thermographic inspections can be used to detect evidence of warm liquid escapes as bright patches and cold liquid escapes as dark patches.

If you are struggling to get the cover you need, the team here at Omni Davis can help give you the peace of mind you deserve, by sourcing the cover you require or by providing valuable advice.

Contact us by Telephone on 01403 785775 or via Email on info@omnidavis.co.uk.  We’d be delighted to hear from you.

Insurers QBE Article