Water Damage In Hotels / Motels

By Author: Leo Nov
Total Articles: 883
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Water damage could eat into the profits of a hotel enterprise. The damage sustained by the building itself and the contents and furnishings could destroy the property's value. In addition, secondary water damage such as mold growth is something that hotels must address properly.

The presence of mold, as well as rotted wooden floors, could increase the hotel's liability risks for injury or environmental health of employees and guests. In addition, a moldy odor in the hotel is certainly not good for business.

If the water damage is extensive such as when a massive flooding happened, bringing the hotel back to business would mean a big investment. Many water-damaged hotels end up in permanent closure, even when the property has insurance coverage.
Full recovery is hard to achieve because of the fact that the hotel is continuously losing profits the entire time their water-damaged rooms are undergoing restoration. Other reasons include the highly competitive conditions in the hotel industry and the seasonal nature of most hotel businesses.

Preparedness and Prevention
For hotels, controlling water ...
... damage is an important part of business. Since water damage can be caused by so many different things from heavy rains and flooding to broken mains, hotel managers should pay special attention to water damage risks. Preparedness is critical to prevent water damage events or at least avoid disastrous consequences.

In addition to educating themselves about water damage risks, hotel managers should also learn about how best to avoid them. They should also see to it that hotel maintenance is done periodically and should always include the hotel's water supply lines, plumbing systems and fixtures. The use of emergency water alarms is also helpful to alert hotel managers and staff about potential flooding or leaks.

Making service agreements with professional emergency service providers before there is any need for their services is also invaluable. Since every hour counts when dealing with water damage, it is best to have a pre-incident contract with a professional water damage cleanup and restoration company so no time is wasted after the incident in locating reliable professional help.

Recovering after Water Damage
It is important that water damage is addressed correctly and swiftly. Keep in mind that the hotel's profits are directly hit every single day the water-damaged rooms are not available. In addition, mold damage and long-term damage to the hotel's structure will most likely develop when cleanup efforts are delayed.

When water worsens or spreads due to slow or improper response, the costs of recovery or restoration naturally increase. So, it cannot be stressed further the importance of having an efficient process to respond to water damage and complete the restoration process properly in the shortest period of time possible.

A licensed water damage restoration company is equipped to provide immediate response to such emergencies. While waiting for professionals to arrive, remind staff about what to avoid doing after water damage:

" Do not extract water using ordinary vacuums.
" Do not operate electrical appliances when standing on a wet floor or carpet.
" If the power supply is still on, never enter a room with standing water.
" Do not attempt to pull up tacked-down carpets without professional assistance because if done incorrectly, the carpets could shrink.

Again, do not wait to contact professional cleanup services. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advises owners of water-damaged commercial properties such as hotels to take action within 24 to 48 hours of the incident and notes that professional help may be necessary for quick and thorough drying of the affected area.
Leo Nov is an editorial staff member of RestorationSOS.com, a leading service provider for fire and water damage cleanups. To learn more about water damage restoration and water damage services, visit RestorationSOS.com