Condominiums and high-rises are springing up all over the Greater Toronto Area. You may think that these buildings are safe from floods, but GTA Property Services Group, the leading condominium and high-rise flood specialists, is advising that flooding can strike even condos and high-rise office buildings and apartments.
Condominiums and high-rise buildings have basements. If there’s going to be a flood in your building, this is most likely where it will occur. If you or your tenants have anything stored in the basement, it will be damaged by the flood waters. This is when we recommend calling in the condominium and high-rise flood specialists at GTA Property Services Group. We use the best professional equipment for water cleanup in condo or high-rise basements following a flood.
However, floods can also affect the individual units of a condominium. Whether it’s due to damaged plumbing, a sink or toilet overflowing, or any number of factors, a flood in a condo unit can cause issues for tenants on the floors beneath it.
But, there are steps you can take to prevent flooding in your condo unit(s), apartment, or office. The first and most important step you must take is to make sure that the plumbing is in good condition. A property owner should have the plumbing inspected every few years and, if tenants report any issues, get them repaired immediately. As condominiums and high-rise flood specialists, we urge property or unit owners to make sure this is done to prevent floods.
Whether it’s in a condo unit, an apartment or an office on the upper floors of a high-rise, a flood can create many issues. If you’re filling a sink or bathtub, avoid any distractions, so it doesn’t overflow. Similarly, don’t use your toilet as an unofficial garbage disposal. You wouldn’t do this if you owned a home. The same rule applies to condominiums, apartments, and offices. As condominium and high-rise flood specialists, we have seen firsthand the damage that floods in single units can cause on multiple floors.
If you have a washing machine in your unit, make sure that it is shut off if you aren’t using it. Also, make sure that the water discharge hose is firmly in place. If you notice it leaking at all, switch it off immediately and let your landlord know. The same goes for your dishwasher. While you should be able to safely leave your unit while it is running, we still recommend being close by just to make sure that it does not leak during its cycle.
Always make sure that your toilet is not running before you leave. If you’re going to be away for a few days or weeks, leave your key with a trusted neighbour or family member and have them check on things.
If you own a building, make sure you have procedures in place to address any tenant complaints regarding plumbing as soon as possible. Ignoring a complaint about even a small leak could lead to big problems.
In the event the unthinkable happens, call GTA Property Services Group at 416-926-9595. The sooner you get the water cleaned up and dried, the less chance there is that mould and other issues will develop. As condominium and high-rise flood specialists, we will arrive at your property quickly, no matter what the time, and provide expert flood cleanup!
Leonard Nutt
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