Reddy Kancharla Shares Tips On What To Do After Detecting A Leak

 

A small leak in a commercial building can cause extensive water damage. The longer the leak goes unnoticed, the more significant damage. As Reddy Kancharla points out, commercial spaces use more water than residential properties, so it is best to act quickly after detecting a leak.

 

Roof Water Leaks

Roof leaks are common in buildings with flat roofing and a faulty drainage system is usually to blame. Property owners should seek commercial roof repairs if the drainage system fails to reroute the standing water.

 

Roofing membranes can split, blister, crack, or shrink as roofs age. Minor damage to the roofing membrane, if discovered in time, will require only a roof repair rather than a highly costly roof replacement.

 

Gas lines, HVAC units, vents, drains, and pipes all pass through rooftops, necessitating proper securing to avoid leaks inside the commercial property. Reddy Kancharla recommends regularly monitoring each roof penetration to ensure a watertight seal. Rain collars, flashing, pipe boots, and field wraps are effective leak-prevention measures.

 

Plumbing Errors

Reddy Kancharla also believes that property managers should look for the first signs of plumbing pipe leaks. Underground plumbing bursts result in spongy, unstable flooring and constantly wet soil. You can identify pipe leaks behind walls by crumbling plaster, bulging walls, visible water stains, and loose tiles.

 

Additionally, Reddy Kancharla believes it is best to suspect water leaks in the presence of lingering, musty odors, visible mold growth, and noticeable increases in the water bill. Fortunately, water leak sensors can detect hidden water leaks like these. Once you identify the leak, Reddy Kancharla suggests removing the flooring to access the pipes for repair or digging up the soil to reach the underground pipes.

 

Leaks in Commercial Basements

Cracked foundations can cause water leaks in commercial basements. However, these are likely to go undetected until the minor leak erupts into a massive, unexpected water issue in the form of floods and structural damage. As a result, once the basement has sprung a leak, it cannot be fixed with band-aid solutions such as crack plugging. So, Reddy Kancharla recommends contacting a professional waterproofing contractor to determine the exact source of the leak and resolve the problem.