Dealing with a water damage emergency is a recipe for stress. While residential and commercial water damage share similarities, a commercial water damage emergency is a whole different area of complications. A water damage emergency in your commercial space yields difficulties like the possibility of losing access to your workspace and a diminishment in productivity.
To properly handle a commercial water damage emergency, business owners should know how to spot water damage, how to act when water damage arises, how to avoid water damage and understand how the commercial water damage restoration process works. With these things in mind, business owners will be better prepared if a water damage emergency strikes.
Is Water Damage an Emergency?
Water damage is not a thing that should be taken lightly. Because of its severity, water damage is indeed an emergency. Water damage can create electrical hazards, structural damage, and health complications in your commercial space.
If water damage manifests in your commercial setting, not only will it have the possibility to create those issues, but it will also have the ability to snowball into various other problems for the building and its patrons. No business owner wants that.
How to Spot Water Damage in Your Commercial Property
Some business owners may not know what water damage looks like and how to spot it. The first step to understanding if your commercial property is at risk due to water damage is being able to properly identify the signs of water damage.
Business owners should know that water damage can be difficult to identify, so spotting any of these signs of water damage will save money and lessen the risk of lost work.
Damaged Windows
Damaged windows are a common sign of water damage in commercial buildings. Business owners want to make sure that their windows are sealed and secured to prevent incoming water. This can lead to mold growth, warped drywall and wood, and standing water.
Leaking Pipes
If pipes throughout your commercial property begin to sustain cracks, this will lead to leaking that can create drops and even pools of water buildup.
Thankfully, pipes seldom burst out of nowhere. A common way to notice if your building’s pipes are possibly leaking is water stains on the floor or wall, musty smells, and damaged or loose ceiling and floor tiles. If you are unsure if you are dealing with leaky pipes, call a restoration company to identify the issue.
Roof Leaks
If your commercial building is leaking, symptoms of water damage like mold, mildew, ceiling damage, and more can start to show. Commercial property owners can alleviate possible roof issues by getting their roofs checked a couple of times throughout the year.
Sewer Clogs
One of the many causes of water damage commercial properties are most susceptible to is sewer clogging. This sign of water damage is caused by clogged pipes, blockages, and worn-out plumbing. The beginning of this symptom may be heard with gurgling in the building’s pipes or water being backed up in drains or toilets.
Commercial Water Damage Restoration Process
If water damage has started to show in your commercial property, starting the water damage restoration process is the necessary next step. Commercial property owners can expect these steps to be taken during the water damage restoration process:
Assessment and Inspection
The restoration team will first come into your commercial property to assess how severe your water damage is to determine an acceptable strategy going forward.
Water Mitigation
The restoration team will next take the best steps to mitigate water damage on your property. This step includes taking inventory of affected items and removing any items that can be saved. The restoration team will also identify any leaks and stop them.
Cleanup, Drying, and Sanitization
This step of the water restoration process entails cleaning up any standing water and the use of industrial fans for airflow and circulation to dry the affected area to prevent mold growth. Then, sanitization takes place.
Restoration and Repair
After those steps have been completed, restoration is ready to begin. Your restoration team will repair any damaged building materials like drywall and flooring to get your commercial building back and ready for business.
What to Do in Commercial Water Damage Emergencies
If you are a commercial property owner and have a water damage emergency on your hands, this is what to do:
Act Fast
Because water damage is a severe problem, acting as fast as possible is of the utmost importance. The longer the water is present, the chances of additional damage and issues start to go up.
Turn Off the Water Supply
If the source of water damage to your property is a burst pipe or issues with your plumbing, locate and turn off the water supply. This will prevent additional flooding and water accumulation in your building.
Call a Professional Restoration Company
The next step is to get a professional restoration company on the phone. If your commercial property has run into a water damage emergency in the Seattle area, PureDry Restoration is a highly-rated provider with commercial water damage restoration services to restore your building.
Document the Damage
Before cleanup and restoration, take photos and videos of the water damage for documentation and insurance purposes. This is going to help with submitting your insurance claim.
Remove Standing Water
The longer standing water sits, the more damage it can cause. A restoration company uses high-powered pumps and vacuums to get water out fast and efficiently.
Dry Out Affected Areas
Once the standing water has been removed, the areas affected need to be dried out. The use of industrial-standard dehumidifiers and air movers will thoroughly dry out walls, floors, and furniture.
Sanitize and disinfect
At this point, it’s important to sanitize and disinfect affected areas to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria.
What to Avoid in Commercial Water Damage Emergencies
To make sure your water damage is handled with good measures, commercial property owners should avoid these mistakes.
Ignoring the Issue
Ignoring your signs of water damage or going DIY is one of the biggest mistakes a commercial property owner can make. Water damage will get worse if left untreated and handling it on your own won’t make for an efficient restoration.
Delaying Cleanup and Restoration
For the same reasons as ignoring water damage, delaying the cleanup and restoration process is going to create more problems that can be hazardous for the patrons of the building.
Using Electrical Appliances
Never use electrical appliances in areas of water damage. This is extremely dangerous given the risk of electrocution and starting a fire.
Not Documenting the Damage
If you don’t document the damage your property has sustained, expect to have difficulties and delays when trying to file an insurance claim.
Overlooking Structural Damage
Some business owners may observe structural damage and think they don’t have to worry about it and save some money as well. The integrity of your building can be at risk if business owners decide to do this, leading to the possibility of disastrous consequences.
What Is Water Clean Up & Restoration
The process of water cleanup and restoration is there for your commercial property to get it back to its pre-water-damaged condition.
- Water Extraction
The removal of standing water or sewage for affected areas.
- Removal and Disposal
The proper disposal of all damaged or unsalvageable items.
- Structural Drying
Dries out the structures affected with dehumidifiers and air movement devices.
- Mold Prevention
Sanitization and disinfection of affected areas to prevent any mold or bacteria growth.
- Rebuild and Restoration
Returns structures and other items back to their normal condition.
Call the Professionals
Whether you are a Seattle area business owner who has just noticed a small sign of water damage or has been thrown into a full-blown water damage emergency, getting in touch with professionals for your commercial water damage restoration services is the best path to take.
PureDry’s commercial water damage restoration services will get your commercial property back to optimal productivity. Don’t put off your water damage any longer and let PureDry Restoration take stress off your plate.