When water damage strikes, your business operations are at risk. Drying and cleaning must be completed quickly to avoid permanent damage to your property and the spread of mold, bacteria, and viruses. That’s why you need a commercial water damage restoration checklist before it happens. It helps you prepare for the worst by creating an action plan. We’ve outlined everything from initial response to long-term recovery steps to help you get through this crisis with minimal disruption and stress on your team and resources. This document is not an exhaustive list but a helpful guide that you can customize based on your unique business needs or circumstances.
Respond Immediately
You never know when a flood or burst pipe may happen. When you first become aware of the water damage, your priority should be to respond immediately. This will help minimize the damage and prevent the situation from worsening. Here are a few things you should do immediately when you discover water damage in your building:
- Turn off the water source.
- Check for signs of flood damage.
- Shut off the power if any electrical items are affected.
- Notify your insurance company as soon as you notice water damage in your building.
Assessing the Damage
Once the initial water source is turned off, you need to assess the damage to determine what repairs are needed. The first step is determining how much water is present, where, and how long it has been there. You’ll also need to find out if there are any damaged electrical items.
For example, if a pipe has burst and is flooding the area, the water could be very deep or flow toward an electrical panel. Electrical panels are often located near the floor of a commercial building, so they may be submerged in water. Your priority should be to stop the water flow and prevent it from spreading to other building areas.
Assessing water damage can be difficult for the average person. Call a professional contractor if you think there is extensive damage to your building or if you are not experienced in handling water damage.
Dry The Property and Estimate Repair Costs
The next step is to dry the property and estimate repair costs. If your water damage situation is relatively small, you might be able to dry the property yourself. Here are a few things you should do while attempting to dry the property:
- Open windows and doors to allow airflow to dry out the building.
- Move any wet items to a dry area.
- Clean up any mud or dirt that has been tracked in.
- Remove any standing water as soon as possible.
Be careful not to walk through the water if it is knee-high or above. Use a water pump to suck the water out or hire a professional to pump the water out. You must dry the property as quickly as possible to avoid mold growth. While attempting to dry the property, you should also contact a contractor to assess the damage and provide an estimate.
Clean Up After the Water is Gone
The water is gone, but now you need to clean up after it. Here are a few things you should do while cleaning up after the water is gone:
- Remove all standing water from the building.
- Use a shop-vac or other device for sucking up water.
- Wipe down all wet items.
- Remove any mud or dirt that is tracked in (this step may need to be repeated even if you did it earlier).
- Repair any electrical items that were damaged by the flood.
Check for Hidden Damage
You’ve removed the water and cleaned up after it. Now it’s time to check for hidden damage. Hidden damage, such as buckled floors or walls, may be obvious, but it is usually not so obvious. It could be something as subtle as a weakened structure or compromised wiring due to water corrosion. Here are a few things you should do while checking for hidden damage:
- Inspect the building, including the walls, ceilings, floors, and roofs.
- Look for buckling, rotting, or other damage to wood, brick, or other building materials.
- Check for signs of corrosion in the electrical system.
- Be on the lookout for weakened supports or other structural weaknesses that the water could have caused.
Get Repairs Done Right Away
Now is the time to get repairs done right away. Water damage is a serious risk, so you need to find a contractor who can make all the necessary repairs as quickly as possible. Here are a few things you should do while getting repairs done:
- Select contractors based on cost, experience, and customer reviews.
- Look for contractors who have experience handling water damage.
- Discuss your timeline with the contractors to ensure they will be able to complete the repairs promptly.
- Getting competitive bids from at least two contractors will give you competitive bids.
You can’t control when water damage happens, but you can control your response. By taking the necessary steps to prepare for any water damage scenario, you can quickly identify the problem, contain the damage, and hire the best contractors. But remember, water damage is unpredictable, so you must be vigilant and prepared for it to happen at any time. And if it does, your commercial water damage restoration checklist will help you respond quickly and efficiently.