Water Damage in Your Commercial Building | SERVPRO of East Cobb

11/1/2022 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO a soon as possible if you discover water damage in your place of business or commercial property today. We can help 24-hours a day!

Impacts on your business can be severe when it is affected by commercial water damage. Flooding often originates from right inside your building and can result in lost inventory and soaked floors. Burst pipes, leaky roofs and sewer backups all pose a threat to your building.

Natural causes are also extremely detrimental. Flash floods from heavy rains is one of the biggest risk factors we have in East Cobb, and we have seen extensive damages over the years.

If you are prepared before a flooding event can happen, you can move quickly and start recovery faster with less stress. No matter where the water comes from, take preventive steps to mitigate your losses.

Know Your Building’s Layout

Get to know the layout of your building in order to familiarize yourself with water shut-off valves. Make sure you know how to turn off the main water valve as well as the fire sprinkler system so that you can move quickly in the event of a leak.

Make this information a public part of your emergency plan so that several people are prepared to turn off the water if necessary. Cutting off the source of a flood can mitigate your losses greatly when you are able to move fast.

Know the Types of Water Involved

When your business is affected by water damage, it is important to understand the kind of water you are dealing with in order to respond appropriately.

White water. Plumbing failures are a common source of flooding that is not considered contaminated. White water floods are safe to clean up on your own when they are small in nature.

Gray water. Gray water originates from overflowing sink drains or toilets. This type of floodwater is contaminated but not dangerous.

Black water. When a sewer backs up or a storm creates flooding, it is called black water. This kind of water is contaminated and should only be handled by a professional.

Take Action Quickly

If you experience a flooding event, the faster you move, the more you can protect your property. Attempt to identify the source of the water and shut it off if possible.

Open windows and doors around the affected area to promote air circulation and expedite drying. Let anyone who may access your building know to avoid the flooded area.

Once you have taken these steps, document any damages you can safely see. Take pictures and notes to aid you in your insurance claim, and review these to determine if you need additional reinforcements in this part of your building to prevent further disasters.

Remember to Be Patient

Water damage you can see is typically only part of the problem. There may be hidden signs of water damage you should be watching for. Moldy framing, buckled spots in your flooring or soaked studs are all red flags that should be addressed quickly for potential damages.

If your building does experience a water event, call SERVPRO of East Cobb to get restoration started right away. We have ²⁴⁄₇ availability, industry-leading equipment and the trained professionals to handle your damage fast.

The drying process after a major flood can take more than a week. Stay patient while our team cleans and sanitizes. We will walk you through each part of the process and have your business back to normal before you even realize it.

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!