16/4/2018 - Water is essential to life
Water is essential to life, but could also be a destructive force in life,
like it could diminish the value of your home or your building. Your homes, as
well as your commercial buildings, can suffer water damage that results in an
increase of maintenance costs, a decrease in the value of your properties.
The best way to protect yourself against this potential loss brought by
water damage is to ensure that your building components, which enclose the
structure, or the building envelope, are water resistant.
You will also want to ensure that manufacturing processes, if it is
present, do not allow excess water to accumulate. Make sure finally, that your
plumbing and ventilation systems, which can be quite complicated in buildings,
operate efficiently and Villa Tile are well
maintained. For this, let me provide you some basic steps to assist you in
identifying and eliminating potentially damaging excess moisture brought by
water damage.
The following are your common building-related sources of water intrusion
that can bring about water damage:
* Your windows and doors: You should check for leaks around your windows,
your storefront systems and your doors.
* Your roof: Improper drainage systems and roof sloping reduces your roof
life and becomes a primary source of moisture intrusion thus, leaks are also
common around vents for exhaust or plumbing, rooftop air conditioning units or
other specialized equipment.
* Your foundation and exterior walls: Seal any cracks and holes in your
exterior walls, joints and foundations for these often develop as a naturally
occurring byproduct of differential soil settlement.
* Your plumbing: Check for leaking plumbing fixtures, dripping pipes
(including fire sprinkler systems), clogged drains (both interior and exterior),
defective water drainage systems and damaged manufacturing equipment damaged by
water damage.
* Your HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Cooling) Systems: There are numerous
types of systems, some very sophisticated, and are crucial components in
maintaining a healthy, comfortable work environment for you. These systems are
comprised of a number of components (including your chilled water piping and
condensation drains) that can directly contribute to excessive moisture in your
work environment. In addition, in humid climates, one of the functions of your
system is to reduce the ambient air moisture (relative humidity) level
throughout your building. An improperly operating HVAC system in your building
will not perform this function.
You can also help prevent water intrusion and excessive moisture levels
brought by water damage yourself by regularly inspecting the following elements
of your building to ensure that they remain in good condition.
* Use flashings and sealants. They are designed to prevent water intrusion
in your spaces where two building materials come together. Sealants and caulking
are specifically applied to prevent moisture intrusion at your building joints.
They must be both Metal Tile maintained and
in good condition lest another water damage ruin them.
* Checking the vents: All your vents should have an appropriate hood, an
exhaust to the exterior and be in good working order.
* Review the use of your manufacturing equipment that may include water for
process or cooling. Ensure your wastewater drains adequately away with no
spillage. You should check for condensation around hot or cold materials or heat
transfer equipment.
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