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Frozen Pipes At Your Business: 3 Unexpected Forms of Water Damage to Watch Out For

Here in Northern Illinois, our fall, winter, and even spring weather can see plenty of freezing temperatures. If cold enough air can reach your pipes, the water inside them will freeze, and the frozen water expands. This expansion creates pressure that can lead to pipes leaking or bursting. 

Bursting pipes is a common problem, with the Institute for Business and Home Safety reporting that claims payments for water damage or freezing have been greater than $4 billion over the past ten years. A single damaged pipe can cause big problems, with up to 250 gallons of water per day coming from a one-eighth inch rupture. These are costly messes to clean up, with the average claim for water damage from frozen pipes costing around $15,000 according to esurance.com

Most home and commercial property owners in Arlington Heights, Evanston, Grayslake, Waukegan, Schaumburg, and surrounding areas understand frozen pipe prevention. You know about installing proper insulation, and making sure your heat keeps your pipes above freezing temperatures. However, unusual incidents like extreme weather, furnace failures, and power outages can overwhelm your prevention efforts and result in burst pipes.

Many forms of water damage at your business are easy to anticipate. You may have soaked carpet, damaged inventory, and soggy furniture. However, water damage can be a serious issue that goes beyond what you can immediately see and understand. 

This is why it’s essential to get help from a water damage restoration professional who understands all of the potential problems, and how to fix them. With over 55 years of experience, we have seen and solved almost everything. Ready to learn from us? Here are three unexpected forms of damage that you may be faced with after a burst pipe at your business or commercial building. 

Problem One: Mold and Mildew: Dangerous to your Property and Health

Mold and mildew growth is always a risk after water damage of any kind. Where there is moisture, mold can grow. When you work with an experienced water damage and mold remediation company, all moisture and humidity are removed from your building. This can stop mold before it starts, and any future issues can be addressed quickly and completely. Mold is not just smelly and ugly – it can cause serious risks to your health, and can cause expensive, extensive property damage.

Problem Two: Structural Damage: Cold and Water Combine to Cause Big Problems

Water is easy to wipe up, so it may be hard to understand how it can cause problems as extreme as structural damage to load bearing walls. It’s true, though. Particularly when water damage is not immediately addressed, it can cause secondary damage throughout your building.

A constant flow of water increases the overall moisture in the structure. In winter, as that moisture comes into contact with cold exterior walls, doors, and windows, it freezes. It can then expand – the same way it did in your pipes – and can cause damage to drywall, studs, joints, masonry, and more.

Problem Three: Downtime and Lost Revenue: Don’t Let Water Damage Your Reputation

Water damage from frozen pipes may require you to shut down your business. If you are a commercial property owner, you may lose tenants due to these issues. No matter what industry you are in, if you are not operating at full capacity, you are losing money. You may even lose employees and damage relationships with your customers if a problem gets too big or goes on too long. 

When you partner with an experienced water damage restoration company, you will get things back to normal as quickly as possible. Fast action can allow us to stop problems before they start, and restore items versus replacing them. With our help, you will have a safe, clean, dry, and operable property back much faster.

Find The Right Water Damage Restoration Partner

At McMahon services, we offer Emergency Plumbing Services, Water Damage Restoration, Mold Removal, and Construction services. When you have a plumbing emergency, take action and partner with an expert who can help you through every step of the process.

At McMahon Services, we have a 24-hour plumbing service that addresses all parts of your plumbing problems quickly and efficiently. You don’t want a quick fix that doesn’t last; you want someone to tackle the problem, and to prevent any future issues. For burst pipes or any other form of water damage, we are here to help home and business owners from Skokie to Schaumburg. Get your business back to normal – contact us for help right away.