Reducing the Threat of Water Damage to Prevent Mold

1/20/2020 (Permalink)

Therefore, to protect your commercial property, set up a maintenance schedule that includes property walk-throughs and checks.

As any mold restoration service will tell you, mold prevention has a lot to do with reducing the threat of water damage. While many commercial property owners do have annual inspections performed, many fail to do the necessary legwork during the rest of the year. Therefore, to protect your building for a devastating mold infestation, be sure to conduct routine inspections of at least these five at-risk items and areas:

HVAC systems
Roof
Foundation
Doors and windows
Plumbing

HVAC Systems

HVAC systems and appliances can often lead to mold because of condensation buildup or small leaks that go unnoticed. When performing routine walk-throughs, it is necessary to inspect the primary units of AC systems as well as look behind and underneath refrigerators and other items.

Roof

Water damage does not have to stem from plumbing. You can have leaks in your roofline that may lead to mold problems. Therefore, it is essential that you make a routine habit of checking for roof damage and leaks at least once per month.

Foundation

Leaks around the foundation can also lead to mold growth inside the facility. A common cause of foundation leaks is clogged gutters or downspouts. Therefore, make sure that you clean the gutter system at least every change of season.

Doors and Windows

Next, you may notice moisture problems around your doors and windows when it rains. If you see such a problem, then you likely have failing seals or weather stripping. Therefore, to prevent mold, be sure to replace any seals or weather stripping that looks worn or cracked.

Plumbing

Last, be sure to have your plumbing inspected at least once a year. While some facilities will be designed with some exposed piping, making visual inspections easy, not every building will have that advantage.

Reducing the threat of water damage comes down to vigilance and routine inspections.