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The Effect of Water Damage on Your Business | SERVPRO® of Sioux Falls
10/31/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Sioux Falls are your local commercial restoration company. We will always be here to help and get you back in business.
Flooding from internal or external sources can have a huge impact on any building. An overflowing septic system, a leaky roof or a pipe that bursts can leave your business with destroyed inventory, closed off bathrooms or floors, or at its worst, a closure of your business.
The Sioux Fall River has taught us all in this area how quickly floods from outside can leave behind damages. We have also had to deal with drenching rains and snow melt flash floods that have left behind enormous messes.
With the risk of flooding so high for our area, it is important to prepare before an event can happen. Getting your building ready now means that you can recover that much faster with less stress.
Getting to know your building is a great way to start preparing for a flood. Learn all the locations of the water shutoffs, especially for the sprinkler system and the main water source.
Let several different people know this information to ensure there is always someone who can respond if an emergency happens. When you are able to turn the water off, you can considerably lower your risk of damages.
If your building experiences a water disaster, you will need to know what type of water has caused the flood so that you can handle it safely.
White water. This kind of flooding comes from your plumbing when it experiences a leak. White water is not dangerous or contaminated, which means you can handle it on your own in small amounts.
Gray water. Gray water comes from a sink or toilet when it overflows. This type of flooding is contaminated, but it is not dangerous to be around.
Black water. If a storm creates flooding or your sewer system backs it is considered black water. This kind of flooding is contaminated and toxic. It will require a professional to handle the cleanup.
If you have a flood in your building, the faster you respond, the more damages you can mitigate. Locate where the water is coming from so you can shut it off.
Open as many windows and doors that you can get to in order to promote drying, and let everyone in the building know what has happened.
The next thing you should do is document the damage you can safely see. Take pictures that can help when you file your insurance claim. You may also take notes of damaged areas in order to add additional reinforcements to weak areas of your building.
In a flood event, the water damage you can see is only part of the affected area. You need to watch your building for alarming signs of hidden damages.
Keep an eye out for mold growth, buckled spots in your flooring and saturated walls. If you spot any of these, be sure to address them right away.
If you experience a flood emergency in your building, call SERVPRO of Sioux Falls right away. We are available 24⁄7 to respond as soon as possible and start the drying process for your business.
Drying up floodwaters of any kind can take more than a week depending on the severity of the event, so make sure to be as patient as possible. Our highly trained professionals will use top-of-the-line equipment and take your restoration one step at a time to get your business back to normal as fast as possible.
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!