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What Happens When Your Apartment Building Floods?
9/29/2021 (Permalink)
A water loss in an apartment building can quickly become a literal disaster.
When the fire sprinkler system accidentally goes off or a water heater malfunctions on the 8th floor of an apartment building, the water damage can be extensive and overwhelming. A water loss in an apartment building can quickly become a literal disaster. Here, we will review what to expect if there is flooding in your apartment building.
What To Expect When Your Apartment Building Floods
1. Water Damaged Ceilings
When you live in or manage a multi-level building and there is flooding on one of the upper floors, you can expect widespread ceiling water damage. Water will have nowhere to go but down, seeping through carpet, hardwood, penetrating subfloors, and making its way to the apartments below.
2. Water Damage to Floors
Expect to need to replace or dry wet carpets or pull up hardwood floors.
3. Electrical Issues
Flood water may have entered your apartment through light fixtures or even poured out of electrical sockets. In cases of major flooding, your apartment building may even have to turn off the power for a certain amount of time until it has been deemed safe to turn it back on.
4. Possible Mold Growth
Flooding in an apartment building is widespread and it can be a while before the moisture on every level is addressed. Mold may begin to grow in as little as 48 hours after water damage, so you should keep an eye out.
5. Loud Equipment
Your apartment management company will likely call their preferred water damage restoration company to handle the cleanup and repairs. This will include stationing commercial grade fans and dehumidifiers throughout the building and even in your apartment. The equipment is usually left for 3-5 days, depending on the extent of damages.
6. Demolition
Since water will freely flow between the floors of the apartment building, the water damage restoration process will surely include opening up ceilings, pulling up carpets, removing trim and moldings, or even removing portions of wet walls. While it may be overwhelming in the moment, these steps will ensure your building is dried out after water damage and will help prevent a widespread mold problem down the line.
7. A Flooded Basement
If your apartment building has a shared basement with laundry or storage - you may not be able to access it for a certain amount of time. When floods happen in apartment buildings, the water will usually collect in the basement. Do not enter it until it has been cleaned up and deemed safe to enter.
8. Possible Need to File an Insurance Claim
The apartment’s management company’s insurance will likely foot the bill for any structural damages and drying out the building, but if any of your personal belongings or contents are affected by flooding, it won’t be covered by their claim. In these cases, you will have to file your own claim with your renters or condo insurance.