3 Steps To Prep Your Building for the Spring Thaw

8/20/2020 (Permalink)

Keep Your Building Safe From The Annual Spring Thaw

Each year, the Kings Point, FL, spring thaw brings with it inevitable flooding, frozen pipes, and a myriad other facilities issues of the season. The spring flood and heavy rains pose a great risk of water damage, and your building may already be weakened by the harsh freeze-thaw cycle of the winter. Do yourself a favor and take these precautions to keep your commercial building safe this spring.

1. Check for Winter Damage
As winter draws to a close, take a walk around your building and check for signs of damage that may have occurred over the past few months, such as:

• Outdoor plumbing line leaks
  
• Frozen pipes
  
• Cracks in foundation, pavement, and parking lots
  
• Sinkholes
  
• Chipped paint
  
• Missing roof shingles
  
• Leaking windows
  
  

These weak spots might be holding up during the cold season but will be susceptible to severe water damage in the event of flooding. If you come across any of these issues, call your local flood preparation professionals to help you take every possible precaution.

2. Make Way for Melting Snow
The snow and ice that have been building up all winter might look harmless now, but with the spring thaw, those build-ups can melt into a dangerous tidal wave.
To prepare for the spring flood, make sure your gutters are cleared out and lead away from your building to proper drainage outlets. Disperse any large snow piles near your building or ensure that they will flow directly into drainage channels, as they could cause serious damage to your foundation if allowed to melt into standing pools.

3. Install Water Alarms
To go the extra mile in spring flood preparedness, install water alarms in your building’s basement or other high-risk areas to alert you if your water-proofing mechanisms have failed. Also consider installing “check valves” in your sewer lines, which will protect you from flood water backing up your drains and flooding your building from the inside out.
These three simple steps can help keep your commercial building safe from the annual spring thaw and save you from having to make costly repairs later on.