Ho us ekeep i ng
HOTEL Business Review
Water Damage Control What appears to be a common water seepage problem can also structurally damage and weaken the property and the best damage control solution is to have the establishment in good repair at all times though a meticulous water damage mitigation programme
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he sight of water damage is so ubiquitous that many assume it to be insignificant. However, the reality is completely different. Left unrepaired, even water seepage and leakage could spell major damage to a property, causing financial loss to owners not only in terms of incurring unnecessary maintenance cost but also by robbing them of their most valued customers. What appears to be common water damage can also structurally damage and weaken the property -- wood rot, peeling paint, and facilitating mould growth -significantly lowering its value in the realestate market, damaging its reputation as a comfortable destination, and interrupting regular operations. An unrepaired leak originating on the hotel’s roof can put at stake the life of ceilings, walls and flooring underneath, besides electronics and the personal belongings of hotel guests. It can affect electrical wiring, creating a potential fire hazard. In fact, as is the nature of water, a small undetected leak can quickly slide down through a building, charting its own routes in the course and travelling a great distance from the original source, making it difficult, if not impossible, for repairing
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personnel to detect. The loss that such a leak may cause is humungous. For example, if a corroded pipe on top floor of a multi-storey building goes undetected, the damage can extend to several floors and make a hole in the pocket of the owners. Moreover, people are today aware that a damp room poses serious health risk and therefore not worth their money. It is likely that they would prefer a small neat accommodation with good indoor air quality than a damp luxurious suit with visible mould growth and invisible colonies of dust mites.
Sources of Hotel Water Damage Sources of water damage are hardly any different for hotels from residential or even office building. However, certain buildings that are located in areas that receive high rainfall and flood are more vulnerable to water damage. The roof on a building collects a lot of water, and inferior designs and downpipes can result in leaks. Moreover, to prevent blockages and overflows, which can escape back into the building, adequate maintenance of roof rainwater services is considered a necessity. Severe storms and flooding are powerful sources of water damage even in most
well-designed and well-maintained roofs and buildings. Secondly, the sophisticated plumbing hook-ups that are required today in view of the multiple high-tech appliances such as washing machines, coffee machines, refrigerators, ice machines, etc., can also be a potential source of water damage as they can cause leaks when installed improperly. G rey / fo u l wate rs te n d to p res e nt intermittent leaks, which can slowly build up over time, as these types of appliances are not in constant use. Sprinkler piping and pump sets operate at high pressures, so any break in a line can give rise to rapid loss of large volumes of water. Sewage backup can also cause hotel water damage, contamination and potential health hazards. Thirdly, facility systems in a hotel can also be major source of water damage. Plant rooms, boiler rooms and HVAC installations bring additional large volumes of water into a building and any leak in these systems can result in extensive water flow throughout multiple floors, especially if these systems are located on the top floor or roof. The water supplies in some areas contain certain minerals, which can increase the corrosion rate of the water and make pipes and appliances vulnerable to damage.
