Learn The Common Causes of Water in An Elevator Shaft

2/15/2021 (Permalink)

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Severe damages can occur when water enters an elevator pit

One of the parts of a building that rarely comes to mind is the elevator pit. Well, at least not before an elevator begins to have problems. One of the major recurring issues that an elevator pit may have is water intruding into an elevator shaft. The consequences can be devastating if water seeps into an elevator shaft.

The steps you take after detecting water in your building's elevator shaft are essential for a smooth commercial restoration process. When you find standing water, you need to ensure the restoration process occurs immediately to minimize more severe hazards and damages to elevator equipment.

If you have an elevator in your building and feel worried that this situation might arise in the future, then this post is for you. Read on!

What is Elevator Pit Water Damage?

Elevator pit water damage is when water inevitably seeps into your elevator shaft; it ultimately gathers and collects on the pit floor if there is no system to drain it. Pools in the pit of your elevator will eventually result in a complete failure of the system and possibly lead to structural damage. To ensure no further damages occur, you can use waterproofing methods to eliminate water pools on and under the pit floor and then drain it to another location.

How does water get inside an elevator shaft?

Usually, when an area is exposed to heavy rainfall, leakage occurs. With that being said, water damage can happen at any time of the year. It is common for groundwater to find its way into the elevator pit. Another common cause for water in an elevator pit is when a pipe burst inside a property. 

When it comes to water in an elevator shaft, some of the causes are:

• Lack of floor drains and sump pumps.
• Cracks in foundation/walls
• Poor drainage
• Damage to the existing waterproofing system
• No waterproofing installed
• Old structure

Solving the source of the problem should be the immediate solution; adequately waterproofing the concrete in your elevator shaft is the first step to avoid future standing water inside an elevator pit.

It's unsafe to operate an elevator while there is water close to or inside the elevator shaft. Water can result in short circuits, potentially locking someone in the elevator cab or damaging the building's electrical system. First things first, do not try to fix anything on your own. You will need experts' help, consider the professionals at SERVPRO who are available 24/7.

Standing water in an elevator pit can lead to mold damage

Standing water could become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and a potential source for mold growth. Standing water will cause a building's environment to have higher levels of moisture, which is favorable for mold to grow. It is essential to remove all standing water to avoid mold growth in your elevator pit. 

How to remove water in an elevator pit

As we stated earlier, to ensure there's no corrosion on elevator components or important metal parts, it is essential to ensure that the standing water is removed as quickly as possible. It is best to call for help from water damage experts. 

The water restoration experts will remove the standing water with a water extraction system connected to a truck designed to hold many gallons of water. After the water is extracted, the professionals will spray a layer of antimicrobial and place the necessary dehumidifiers and air movers to avoid secondary water damages.

Contact SERVPRO for water restoration services! 

SERVPRO is a well-known company in the restoration industry, and it has been serving clients since 1967. The team at SERVPRO of South Cobb is fully equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and has all the necessary IICRC certifications to restore any size water damage in no time. 

Once you call us, we can guarantee that your elevator shaft will be restored to a pre-damage state. It will be hard to tell that there was ever standing water. At SERVPRO, we understand how difficult such situations can be; that's why we provide 24/7 emergency services. Contact us today!