5 Things To Do When Water Damage Threatens Your Business
Water Damage Doesn’t Need to Halt Operations
Water is one of the most powerful natural forces on Earth. With its strength, water can create breathtaking structures like the Grand Canyon or make thunderous noises as it rushes over Niagara Falls. But just as quickly as it can rise, water can be equally as destructive.
Water damage, especially for businesses, can be a life-altering event in time, money, and can even cause ‘business as usual’ to be at a reduced or relocated capacity. Within minutes, companies can lose all their inventory and be unable to continue operating for months. Imagine being a first-time business owner who finally received all the right permits and the official “go-ahead” only to be left with affected structural damage and ruined contents after an unexpected downpour.
Unfortunately, water damage doesn’t discriminate and can just as easily affect homeowners whether it be a plumbing emergency, a faulty appliance, or changes in weather patterns, the implications can be widespread and long-term.
When unexpected water damage occurs, ACR is there to help get your life and business back in order. One of the ways ACR does this is by taking a mitigation-first approach to water damage to avoid any unnecessary tear-out and replacements where a dry-in-place solution can be implemented to get projects done more quickly and cost-effectively.
Here are 5 steps to consider when water damage threatens your business.
1) Safety First
One of the first things you’ll want to do after your property experiences water damage is to immediately inspect the impacted areas. It’s natural to want to salvage as much as possible, but before you enter a water-damaged area, it’s vital you ensure everyone’s safety. If the damage is severe and widespread, a good rule of thumb is to call first responders and your preferred restoration services company right away before entering the affected area.
Upon arriving, professionals can help to make sure all electrical power is turned off to prevent hazards and complete further water testing. Until then, waterlogged areas should be avoided completely until testing is completed and you know if the water is contaminated or unsafe to come in direct contact with or inhale indirectly.
2) Stop the Water Source
Sometimes water damage is caused by a plumbing issue like in the instance of a past ACR client. When a sprinkler system pipe malfunctioned for the second time, pushing thousands of gallons of water throughout a 400,000-square-foot warehouse and office space, ACR quickly responded. The 35K square foot corporate office suite was directly affected by water damage; carpet, ceiling grid tiles, drywall, and furniture were all completely soaked. Click here to read the full case study.
To prevent further flooding, the main water valve was shut off immediately.
3) Document the Damage
As difficult as it may seem to deal with a devastating loss caused by water damage, it’s important to document every aspect. Take photos and videos of all impacted areas and damaged items and contents for insurance purposes. If you’re an insurance adjuster, you’ve likely already got this covered.
ACR helps simplify the process by utilizing high-tech software like Matterport® technology to help document important data. From moisture mapping, and infrared cameras along with photos and conversation logs at your fingertips, ACR can help you collect detailed documentation to help during the claims process; meaning quicker approvals keeping your project moving forward, and an added way to manage cost, speed, and risk.
4) Begin Water Extraction & Drying
As soon as you and your dedicated restoration team are able, you should begin to extract water with water extraction machines, commercial pumps, or wet/dry vacuums. In the case of this faulty sprinkler system, ACR installed two 7500 CFM desiccants to rapidly dry the interior building envelope. Using a desiccant took only 10 days saving time and money.
It’s also important to use fans and dehumidifiers to dry the affected areas as quickly as possible. This is to help proactively combat mold growth after water damage occurs. Where there is water, many times there is mold. However, if mold growth is already a concern or suspected in the affected area, consult your restoration professional ahead of fan use to prevent further contamination. Even if you’ve only experienced a minor water event or consistent humid conditions, mold growth is a possibility and a real concern, especially if left untreated for prolonged periods of time.
5) Call a Professional Restoration Company
If you don’t have an Emergency Response Agreement readily available, it can be hard to get good help fast. Don’t wait until disaster strikes to contact a reputable restoration company like ACR. Pre-select your vendors in advance so that when water damage occurs, you’re not left scrambling or given the runaround when it comes time to assess and repair your water-damaged property. A traditional restorer may tell you that a tear-out and replacement solution is immediately necessary, but a proactive approach can save you big money.
ACR opts to utilize a mitigation-first approach like cleaning, drying, and proactive mold prevention rather than first tearing out materials when possible. Our goal is to help you get your business back up and running ASAP. “Everything we do is tied closely to our fundamental business promise - helping our clients maintain operational continuity,” says Managing Director, Jim O’Callaghan.
Water damage doesn’t mean you have to stop all business operations. As mentioned above, ACR has helped multiple businesses temporarily relocate staff, pack up contents and continue restoration while ensuring business was not interrupted.
ACR has spent nearly four decades listening to clients in order to speak directly to their unique challenges in the Education, Residential & Commercial Property Management, Property & Casualty, and Healthcare & Assisted Living vertical markets to provide customized project solutions. No matter if it’s water damage, mold growth, or restoring gym floors, our approach to tackling the losses is always the same - to maintain operational continuity. We mitigate risk while reducing expense and loss of use to you and your business.
If you’re interested in learning more about ACR or our water damage services, click here.
