24/7 Emergency Service
Responding to a Water Disaster at Your Business | SERVPRO® of Southern Washington County
10/21/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Southern Washington County is your local commercial restoration company. We will always be here to help and get you back in business.
Whenever water is involved in a disaster, it can be costly and extensive to repair. That is especially true if the disaster happens at your business!
In addition to the sheer cost of a commercial restoration, you also would have to take into account any closures while the repairs are taking place. This alone should make every business owner start to prep ahead of time.
Water damage can come in the form of burst pipes, sprinkler system issues and of course, Mother Nature. We experience all kinds of water-related weather events here, from thunderstorms to ice storms. Even just recently we were affected by flooding and road closures on I-94. Whenever water is involved, there is a risk for damages.
If your business is in a storefront or building, chances are that it has some type of utility space where all of your valves are. Fully understand what all of your water shutoff valves do and what they are responsible for.
Once you understand it, communicate this to your management team or whoever you entrust your business to while you are not there. Someone should always be able and ready to respond to an emergency situation!
Water is constantly flowing around us providing many different daily services, so it’s no wonder that there are different levels of water safety.
White water: This kind of water is the water within your pipes. It is typically considered safe to handle in small amounts.
Gray water: Gray water is all of the water that flows into your sink, shower and kitchen drains. While it is considered contaminated, handling it carefully is considered OK.
Black water: Black water should always warrant a professional cleanup. This water can contain sewage or runoff from a storm drain and is considered toxic.
Once you discover the problem, turn off the appropriate shutoff valve immediately. Then start to address your situation.
If you have the ability to open windows and start circulating the air, do so now and turn on some fans. Then make sure you close off the area to customers, bystanders and your staff to keep everyone safe.
After all that is done, start documenting any damages with pictures. Insurance agents will want clear pictures of what happened, so the sooner you can get them, the better.
While drying out your space is the first priority, checking for any hidden water damage should happen next. Your wall studs, beams and floorboards may still be soaked and if they are not dried quickly, mold could set in.
Call us to do the job right! Our team at SERVPRO of Southern Washington County is here for you no matter what kind of water damage problem you face. We have the proper equipment to get the job done thoroughly, and we will work our hardest to repair your business for you.
When disaster strikes your commercial property, we’ll be there to help clean up and get you back in business quickly. Reach out 24⁄7 to get started!