Burst Water Main: How to Protect Your Business After a City Main Break

9/27/2021 (Permalink)

Shut off the main water valve.

How to Protect Your Company Following a City Main Break

City water main breaks can be catastrophic for your business, especially if they go unnoticed, because of the potential plumbing problems in your building. If you notice the signs of a city main break, then you may want to take the following proactive steps.

1. Check Your Commercial Insurance Policy

While you may think that your insurance policy covers a burst main or that the city will pay for the damage, that is not always the case. Most commercial policies will not cover clean water damage unless it is from a fire suppression system or you have an additional policy endorsement, and the city is not responsible for damage that occurs on your property.

2. Shut Off Water Main

If you notice that there is flooding in the street outside of your business, or you see sediment coming through your faucets, you may want to shut off the main water valve to your building because these are signs that the city main may be compromised. Shutting off this valve protects your building from further damage and gives you time to notify the city.

3. Flush the System

Once you have shut down the access point for any more incoming water, you may want to flush your system to prevent any further plumbing problems. You can do this by turning on the faucets nearest the buildings main. By using the faucet near the location, you may be able to prevent any debris or blockages from further working their way into the system.

4. Call a Professional and Install Preventative Measures

After the city has fixed the main issues and repaired the broken pipe, you may want to call in a plumbing specialist in the Round Rock, TX, area to inspect your system and possibly install a water main filtration system. This system will help to prevent any debris or sediment from future issues from entering your buildings plumbing and causing problems.

Plumbing problems can be frustrating for business owners, but especially when they are not the fault of the business. While busted city mains can be devastating, the above steps may help you protect your company.