Protecting Your Multi-Unit Property from Water Damage

8/21/2020 (Permalink)

Multi-family or Apartment Complex water damages are not uncommon and its not unusual for them to become costly at a very fast rate. Because these individual units share walls with others, if water begins to flow in one unit, it almost inevitably will make its way to another unit. Leaving multiple parties with water damage to resolve.

Best Practices for Preventing Water Damage in Apartment Complexes and Multi-family Residential Properties:

1. Create a clear emergency response plan and share it with your tenants. Make revisions as needed and update tenants once a year. Tenants should know and understand how to respond quickly in any emergency.
2. Check on units that are vacant once a week to detect any issues. Money and time can be saved if you’re able to discover broken or malfunctioning items before they become a major problem.
3. Remind tenants what CAN and CANNOT be flushed down the toilet. Often multi-unit properties share plumbing and a backup in one, can cause a backup in others.
4. Inspect buildings regularly and make necessary repairs immediately. Even a small leak can cause drastic damage if left unfixed.
5. Mark all water supply shut off valves clearly and obviously. If a tenant does not have to call maintenance staff or management to find the location, less time is spent trying to locate the source that could reduce water damage.
6. If units are equipped with a fire suppression system, ensure that tenants can identify where those lines are within walls. Additionally, provide a reminder that sprinkler heads should not have anything hanging from or near them. Avoiding an accidental discharge of this equipment is a favorable outcome.

Keep our phone number easily accessible in maintenance and leasing offices. We’re accessible 24/7 for any emergency. SERVPRO of The Dutch Fork also offers Emergency Ready Plans – these plans outline the shutoff locations for all utilities on each unit or building. They also list all contact information for those involved should there ever be an emergency. These plans are free of charge and highly encouraged for building managers.