Property managers need to know proactive techniques to prevent water damage. When it happens, the property manager is often the last to know. Tenants may be unaware or unobservant of the signs of water leakage, or the property may be temporarily vacant. One thing's for certain: undetected water intrusion only goes from bad to worse. Early intervention in the causes is the best way to prevent water damage in rental property.
Here are a few things the responsible property manager can do:
- Check the integrity of exterior flashing—the thin metal strips that seal the joint separating wall and roof segments from components like a chimney, a vent pipe or a window. Look for places where the flashing isn't properly overlapping, or where gaps exist in the flashing.
- Inspect roof vents. Plumbing vent pipes and the flues for gas water heaters and furnaces terminate at the roof. Make sure the vent hoods that keep rain out while permitting ventilation are still in place and that the flashing surrounding the vents is properly overlapped by roofing shingles.
- Check the roof for missing or damaged shingles or other signs of structural damage.
- Look for any spots where improper landscape grading may direct rain water toward the building's foundation instead of away.
- At the water meter, observe the leak detector indicator to reveal unseen plumbing leaks. Most meters incorporate a small triangular or round disk on the main dial that registers minute amounts of water flow. If the indicator is rotating, water's leaking somewhere.
- Check the A/C condensate drain pan and drain line for proper function. If mold or algae is detected, have it cleaned and disinfected by an HVAC service person.
For information on more steps a property manager can take to prevent water damage, contact the experts at Rytech today.
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