Roofs, walls and ceilings tend to develop cracks and small holes as they age. These small openings can let water from torrential rain in, allowing it to inflict structural damage to your building. Check these parts at least once a year and have necessary repairs done by qualified service providers. If you have a building that has wooden parts, have it checked for damage caused by termites. Termite tunnels make wood hollow, creating a convenient reservoir for water to collect in.

Your building’s pipes also need to be checked for pinhole leaks, corrosion and physical damage. The last thing you want to happen is to be caught off guard when a plumbing leak or a pipe burst happens at inconvenient times. A plumber will be able to help you spot risks in your water supply system. He’ll also be able to recommend preventive actions which will save you a bundle in the long run.

Poor sanitation levels can accelerate the breakdown of your building’s permanent parts. Walls, floors and ceilings stay strong when they’re kept clean and dry. Similarly, water lines and pipes are less likely to corrode when they undergo routine maintenance.

If flooding strikes a cluttered and poorly sanitized building, you’ll be facing difficult times ahead of you. Submerged and floating debris make moving and getting to safety more difficult than with a clear, flooded space. Clutter can also hit you or injure you if you step on it without seeing it. Keeping your building contents arranged in an orderly and compact way gives you mobility when disaster strikes and it helps minimize the amount of content damage when it’s time for the restoration procedure.

A poorly sanitized residence or workplace also raises the propensity for the spread of bacteria, viruses and mold during a flood. Keep the risk of disease down to a minimum with sound cleanup and disinfection practices in your building.

Knowing what can be disposed of in the sink and the toilet is a key to keeping them clog-free. Clogs account for most of the cases of bathroom floods we’ve encountered in our business history. Toilet paper, feminine pads, toys, plastic wrappers and oily liquids are the most common objects that can stick around in a drain pipe and prevent water from escaping into the sewers.

Make sure to avoid flushing and washing away most solids. Educate your children on the effect of dropping toys into the toilet. You’ll also want to remind yourself that oily and fatty substances can glob up and snowball with other debris in your water lines. Essentially, anything that’s not water or bodily waste probably shouldn’t be flushed or sent down the drains.

 Having lots of exposed electrical wiring and extension sockets running around your home or workplace is dangerous during a flood. If the wires are live, it can turn floodwater into an electrocution hazard. Water can also cause your electrical system to short-circuit and start a fire.

Consult an electrician to get ideas on how to set up a low-risk wiring system. Strategic power switch placement, circuit breaker installation and proper insulation can save you from grave harm and your building from terrible losses in the event of significant flooding.

When water is stationary in a pipe during the colder months, it can freeze and clog up the line. This stops water from coming in, but it can also build up pipe pressure and cause it to burst. For best results, make it a point to test your pipe heating before the winter sets in. This will ensure a stable water flow and minimize the risk of flooding from burst plumbing.

Time is of the essence when you’re trying to minimize the effects of water intrusion. If you spot a bathroom overflow, a water heater overflow or a water breach from a natural disaster, you need to act fast and get some help from professionals who know exactly what to do. Companies that specialize in water damage restoration are your best bet and most of them provide 24-hour support with quick response times. The sooner you call, the sooner they can get the flood source shut down. These pros can then contain the flood, assess the damage and apply the right extraction and restoration methods that will keep water from doing additional damage and keep the costs of getting back on track down to a minimum.