What Not To Do After a Pipe Breaks

2/25/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage in a Pirate Harbor, FL.

When a Pipe Breaks, Don't Do These Things

Panic: It's the one thing that business owners around Pirate Harbor, FL, need to stop doing when they see bursting pipes on their property. That doesn't mean that you should take it easy if you have water damage. Wet conditions are the precursors to all kinds of nasty problems, including:

• Black mold
  
• Unpleasant smells
  
• Rotting material
  
  

Don’t Put Off Cleanup

Act quickly to reduce your risk of falling prey to these persistent undesirables. If there's even a sliver of a doubt regarding the completeness of your cleanup and drying processes, take a second or third look at your site to prevent these issues.

Don’t Forget to Check Everywhere

Unfortunately, black mold is one of the trademark issues with flooded buildings. Even after you fix a broken pipe and dry up the area, this mold can pop up seemingly out of nowhere. The issue with black mold is that it requires very little moisture to propagate its spores and create massive toxic colonies. Bursting pipes spray, drip and soak, creating a larger footprint than you might imagine. All affected materials should be removed to avoid mold. It is also prudent to dry any crawlspaces or wall cavities thoroughly, by cutting ventilation holes if necessary. Most good water cleanup companies will know just how much needs to be done to get you back to business as usual.

Don’t Ignore Odors

The issues surrounding most secondary water problems pale in comparison to the health hazards and persistence of black mold. Nasty smells can be just as damaging to businesses, however: driving away customers and making workers uncomfortable or unhappy. Rotting material, apart from producing odor, also provides habitats for pests and potentially weakens your building's structure.

The bottom line is that it's better to get your water issues cleaned up as soon as you have a chance. Secondary damage from bursting pipes is costly, both in terms of cleanup invoices and diminished stakeholder confidence.