Protect Your Commercial Property From Water Damage

12/18/2019 (Permalink)

If you are dealing with any water damage, contact SERVPRO of East Onondaga. We have the experienced and resources to handle any size disaster.

As the owner of a commercial business, you have a lot on your plate. Your responsibilities are even greater though if you are responsible for the upkeep of the building that you operate out of. A commercial building can have a lot going on, with plumbing and drainage systems that are much more complex than what you have at home.

Suddenly sustaining water damage is every business owner's worst nightmare. You could suffer damage not just to your building but to your inventory, materials or supplies within it. If you want to minimize the chances of this happening, here are some tips to keep in mind.

Get a Tax-Deductible Pump

A sewer or flood backup pump can help remove water from your property as it arrives and hopefully before any significant damage is done. Some cities and towns even offer tax rebates or other beneficial programs to businesses like yours who work to keep their property flood free. 

But even if you won't be getting a rebate or deductible out of the job, installing a backup pump is still a good idea. The money you put towards it now could pay off by saving you thousands of dollars in the event that something does go wrong.

Get Every Employee on Board with the Shutdown Plan

You are just going about your day as normal when suddenly, it happens. A pipe bursts or backs up and overflows, and suddenly there is water pouring in where it should not be. After you get over the initial shock, your first priority should be to get to the shut off valves. But a commercial building can have shut off valves in multiple locations.

Make sure as many employees as possible are aware of the location of each shut off valve to use in an emergency. You can’t prevent all damage at this point, but you can limit the damage by thinking quickly and acting fast.

Get Insulated

Plumbing in some commercial buildings will be exposed. If the piping for your plumbing or your manufacturing process is out in the open, this could leave it more vulnerable to freezing, especially if part of your commercial building is not heated in the winter.

If you want to reduce the chances of a pipe bursting and flooding your building due to the frigid cold, pipe insulation can help. Contact a local professional and get every exposed pipe on your property properly insulated.

Get the Number of a 24/7 Emergency Service Before You Need It

Something went wrong and now there's water where there should be none. You can't undo what's already happened, but you can work to get your property restored before further damage occurs. Research the number of a local water damage restoration company now before you need it.

For best results, find a company that offers a 24/7 emergency service. You don't want to let standing water linger over the weekend or a holiday because your chosen contractor is not available. A 24/7 emergency water damage service will leap into action quickly and put you back on the path towards re-opening your business before too much revenue is lost.

No one ever expects water damage to occur, but you can reduce the negative effects by planning for a worst case scenario in advance. Educate your employees on where the shut down valves are located, install a backup pump system if it will help, and reach out to a local water damage professional now to start a relationship before you actually need them.

SERVPRO of East Onondaga provides water damage repair and other disaster restoration services. Contact us today to get help fast.