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By Desiree DeNunzio, Insureon Contributor

A burst pipe or other water-related mishap can be financially devastating for a small business. When a business suffers a flooding or freezing incident, it might have to close to repair the damage, which ultimately means lost revenue. If repairs aren’t taken care of promptly, they can lead to even costlier threats, such as mold growth and structural damage.

If your business experiences a water-related incident, you’ll need to act quickly to mitigate the damage. Small business insurance can also play a crucial role in lessening the financial impact. However, it’s best to prevent such occurrences from happening in the first place. Use these tips to protect your business from flooding and freezing damage.

1. Insulate exposed pipes

When temperatures drop during the winter, especially at night, exposed pipes are vulnerable to freezing. Plummeting temperatures or cold drafts can freeze water inside a poorly insulated pipe, creating pressure and ultimately causing the pipe to burst. A broken pipe can lead to costly flooding or even structural damage.

The best way to prevent frozen pipes is to ensure they’re insulated.
flood damage restoration brentwood carry pipe insulation. The more insulation you use, the better protected your pipes will be.

2. Keep heat at sufficient levels

To prevent pipes from freezing, you’ll want to keep an eye on your business’s thermostat. Make sure the thermostat is never set lower than 50 degrees – even on weekends or when the building is vacant. Avoid significant changes between nighttime and daytime temperatures, which increases the risk of your pipes freezing. In addition, be sure to regularly replace batteries in thermostats to ensure they’re operating correctly.

3. Inspect gutters and drainage

Fallen leaves and other debris in gutters and downspouts can lead to water damage to the exterior and interior walls of a building. Regularly inspect your business’s gutters, downspouts, and drainage system, and remove any debris or buildup. Have gutters professionally cleaned on a regular basis to ensure water is draining properly and away from the building.

4. Clear your roof

Snow and ice accumulation on your business’s roof can result in weakened roofing materials and create ice dams,” which prevent melted ice and snow from properly draining. Regularly remove snow and ice from your business’s roof to prevent structural damage. Know your roof’s load-bearing capacity, and periodically check to ensure that snow and ice aren’t accumulating beyond its weight limits.

5. Locate your shut-off valve

If a pipe breaks, you’ll need to act quickly. That means you should know the location of the main shut-off valve for your building’s water supply. Shutting off the main valve will temporarily cut the flow of water to the building, preventing flooding until you are able to fix the problem.

6. Seal cracks and gaps

Seal any cracks, holes, or other gaps in your building’s exterior and foundation to ensure that cold air doesn’t penetrate your building and warm air doesn’t escape. Caulk, weather stripping, and other sealants can be used to make your building more energy efficient and reduce the risk of frozen pipes.

7. Keep track of valuable items

Knowing the value of items in your building will help you replace them in the event they’re damaged by a water-related incident. If there’s a risk of flooding, move valuable items from the floor of your business – as long as you don’t put yourself at risk. If flooding does occur, you’ll need to ensure that the building has been safely evacuated and that all employees and customers are able to get to higher ground as soon as possible.

8. Protect your business with insurance

It’s important to have adequate insurance in place in the event that you do experience water or freezing damage. When it comes to small business insurance, the details of your coverage matter.

Many commercial property insurance policies will cover the cost of pipe breakage but will exclude damage from flooding, groundwater, and backed-up sewer lines. Your insurer will likely look at the source of the water damage when you make a claim and decide whether you’re covered. You can ask your insurer to add a rider , or an endorsement, to your policy to extend coverage to hazards that are excluded from your policy to ensure your business is protected.

Insureon helps business owners compare quotes from multiple insurance carriers with one easy application. Start a free online application today to protect your business from water and freezing damage.

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