Commercial Water Damage? Here’s What You Should Know Commercial Water Damage Commercial water damage is not something that should be taken lightly. You will have to deal with any property damage that may occur. Furthermore, because of the humid summers and freezing winters, commercial water damage in DC can be particularly troublesome. The most important thing you can do as a business owner is to have a game plan when water damage occurs. In this article, we provide essential information that you need to know if you are unfortunate enough to have water damage on your commercial property. Inspect Your Property After you have noticed that your commercial property has water damage, the next step is to do a thorough inspection. Inspecting your property will better inform you of the next steps that are needed. Begin to Dry Out What You Can Water damage can act fast, and it is vital to respond quickly to any damage you may see. If you notice that the water is coming from a burst pipe, you need to shut off the water line to your commercial property. We recommend that you keep certain items like towels and dehumidifiers at your property. These tools will allow you to begin the drying process and prevent any further damage. Hire a Water Restoration Company If you come to find that the water damage affecting your commercial property is extensive, it may be time to hire a professional. A professional service will be able to provide a more thorough cleaning and restoration to your property. DC Water Restoration has provided unparalleled water restoration in DC and surrounding areas for over a decade. Using state-of-the-art technology and techniques, we will return your commercial property to working order in no time. Also, since we provide 24/7/365 service, you will always be able to get the service you need in as little as 60 minutes. Begin an Insurance Claim Water damage in a commercial property can cause massive costs to you. Having insurance in a moment like this will not only save you money; it will also save you stress and headaches. However, it is important to note that most insurance companies are not going to send you a check with no questions asked. You need to record all the information you can about the damage that affected your property. An excellent way to do this is to take photos of any damage to your commercial property. Also, it would be smart to save any invoices and receipts that you may have for all the equipment and furniture you have. Preparation is Key Commercial water damage in DC is a serious issue. A common factor repeated throughout this article is preparation. Indeed, the best way to get ahead of water damage is to have an action plan in place. You need to have necessary items handy like towels and dehumidifiers. In addition, if you live in DC or a surrounding area, have the number of DC Water Restoration in a convenient spot. Finally, have all invoices and receipts saved so you can submit an effective insurance claim. Explore more helpful advice on the DC Water Restoration Blog website.
How Is Commercial Water Damage Different? Commercial Water Damage Commercial property is different when damaged because it affects numerous persons at the same time. For example, apartment buildings house hundreds of residents, and commercial water damage can affect many of them. Moreover, commercial water damage in stores can impact thousands of shoppers each day. Commercial water damage has a wide impact on many lives and impacts the community as a whole. Owners of commercial property should act quickly upon discovering damage to the building caused by water, fire, or mold. Acting quickly will make a difference for all people affected. After calling your insurance agent and filing a claim your next step is to call a certified restoration company. Document the damage with pictures and or videos. Office Buildings Office buildings are particularly affected by water damage due to numerous pieces of office equipment and wires running throughout the building. Practice safety and shut off incoming water valves and power. Not only do you need to have the structure repaired, but you should also replace the office equipment and furniture. If you cannot replace the items, make sure you have them thoroughly dried. Depending on the material your office furniture needs special attention. For example, you should have your wood furniture properly sanded and resealed. Likewise, you should have your upholstery dry cleaned if you want to prevent it from growing mold. Always handle your electronics with care and safety. To prevent the development of corrosion, get to them quickly. You can salvage your electronics with proper drying and dehumidifying. Professional equipment is stronger and can remove more water from the building. Store Fronts If you are a commercial property owner or landlord you know how important your structures are to business. Retail businesses that are clean and attractive are going to attract more clientele. When your store is damaged by water or fire it looks unattractive and you will lose customers. Restoring your property to its attractive appearance is important and so is safety. Have a professional make sure that your structure is sound, the walls are sturdy and free from mold. During reconstruction, practice safety by blocking off potentially dangerous areas and have employees wear protective clothing. Call A Professional Commercial water damage is nothing to fool around with. If you do not get things properly cleaned you are setting yourself up for potential problems with mold or structural damage. Tenants may file lawsuits and complain to authorities. Call DC Water Restoration to get professional help quickly and economically. At DC Water Restoration our employees are knowledgeable on legal and environmental issues that impact commercial properties. Finally, our response time is 30-60 minutes and we have 24/7 emergency services.
Commercial Property Water Damage Do’s and Don’ts Commercial Property Water Damage Commercial property water damage is a serious issue. How you respond in the moment could mean the difference between recovery and disaster. One of the first steps is to contact a DC water restoration company to help you with the cleanup process. Of course, this isn’t the only step in restoration. Here are a few tips to guide you through your first responses so you can achieve the best possible outcome. Do Document Your Damage Immediately When you notice water damage, reach for your smartphone. Immediately taking videos and pictures of the water damage can help your claim. Gathering proof of the extent of the damage (especially before you touch anything) can establish the condition of the building separate from your actions. Submit this proof to your insurance company when you open up your claim. This allows the insurance company to know that disaster really did strike; it’s not something that you did to yourself. Don’t Rush Into a Flooded Area If you see a flooded area on your property, don’t rush into it. One of the primary rules of commercial property water damage repair is to put safety first. When there’s a flooded area, it’s hard to know what is going on underneath all that water. Anything might have happened there. For example, catastrophic events could expose electrical wires or outlets, electrifying the water. There’s no way of knowing what you’re rushing in to. Even if you know that the power to the area is off, there could be other potential hazards. Dirty water from outside flooding could be a biohazard. Chemicals, molds, and germs get swept up into the water. Wading through it could be like stepping in sewage! If you must cross a flooded area, take precautions. Don’t enter unless you have personally confirmed that the power to the area is off. If you have, wear thick shoes. High boots are best, as you want to reduce the amount of water that gets on you or your clothes. Remove your clothes as soon as possible once you’ve crossed the flooded area. Do Cut Utilities This piggy-backs off the last point: turn off the utilities. Cutting water and electricity to your property makes it safer for repairs crews to begin work on your commercial property water damage. Running water can make a leak much worse. Water pressure can also damage natural gas lines. Until you know that all of your utilities are safe to use, it’s better to turn them all off. Don’t Close Your Claim Too Quickly After commercial property water damage, it can take your business a while to get back on your feet. It’s tempting to close out your claim as soon as possible. Instead, keep things open until the professionals say you’ve done all you can. If you close a claim too quickly, you may lose out on additional compensation. You may not notice additional issues that present with water damage until several weeks after the initial flood. For example, mold growth often takes time to develop. As a result, you may end up replacing large items such as furniture, which you had considered refurbishing. Commercial property water damage can be dangerous. Start by documenting everything and shutting down all the utilities you can. From there, professionals can work to remove water and restore items damaged by the flooding. Your insurance company may want you to close your claim, but make sure you’ve covered everything before you do.