For any business owner, his building is without a doubt his biggest asset. Sure, there are employees and products to consider, but without a place of business for everyone to congregate, you wouldn’t even have a business. More often than not, the building is also one of the biggest expenses. As hard as it is to foresee and prevent future repair problems, no business owner these days wants to bear the expenses of unexpected breakdowns and repairs.
This is especially true when it comes to water damage. Water is a formidable enemy and creates a whole host of potential future problems like mold and mildew. Sometimes frozen and leaky pipes are just unavoidable. Every building that has running water will at some point be at risk of water damage. It’s a hard truth to face, but it is one you must wrap your head around to learn to move past it in the most efficient ways possible.
Preventive Maintenance Can Help
There is simply no way to prepare for every unforeseeable incident. Things are going to happen unexpectedly and these will oftentimes be the most costly and troubling problems. That said, it doesn’t mean you should just let your plumbing system go to ruins. Just sitting by and waiting for problems to happen means you are only asking for problems. Get in the habit of maintaining, cleaning, and inspecting your system. The more familiar you are with it, the better equipped you will be to handle and prevent problems.
Roof Leaks Can Contribute
That statement mentioned before was only half right. The hard truth of the matter is that every building is at potential risk of water damage. There is always a real possibility of roof leaks. Roof leaks oftentimes stay hidden and don’t show up until major complications have caused them to rear their ugly heads. With drywall, plywood, shingles, and insulation to go through, it is hard for tiny water leaks to show. Therefore, you’ll also need to familiarize and inspect your roofing setup.
Minor Leaks Are Not To Be Left
A minor leak at the water heater or a drip under the sink in the drainage section might seem like things that can be postponed or put off. Absolutely not! If your insurance company catches wind that you were aware of a problem and failed to correct it, they’ll deny coverage immediately. They might even ban you from future policies. Also, that’s just laziness and bad ownership.
Varying Water Contamination
Water really is a fickle mistress that most people don’t understand. Would you be shocked to learn there are three different water contamination ratings? These are white water, gray water, and black water. The cleanup and sanitization of the ensuing messes will depend on the type of damage you have incurred. For instance, clean-up and sanitization of black water are much different and more threatening than white water contamination.
Know Your Insurance Policy
Unexpected repairs are already troubling enough. They’ll only be more troubling if you learn that your insurance isn’t going to cover the damages. Insurance policies can be tricky, so you’ll want to make sure you are 100% clear with your agent as to what will be covered and will not be covered. This is something you are better off uncovering when you initiate the policy. What’s the point in paying each month for flood protection when the likelihood of your store flooding is so low that it’s virtually impossible? Safe yourself some money and then take that money and divert it elsewhere to more meaningful policies.
Flood Insurance Is Separate
Speaking of flood insurance, many aren’t even aware of the fact that this isn’t something that’s covered under your regular building policy. Flood insurance is considered an entirely different entity altogether, and if your building is at risk of such potential natural disasters, you’ll want to make sure you are covered. Some providers might not even be willing to offer policies to owners that reside in known flood areas, so this is always something to consider. At the very least, your monthly premiums might end up being so high that they aren’t even worth it.
Quick Action Is A Must!
This one probably goes without saying, but there is usually so much scrambling in the aftermath of a major disaster that people lose themselves, their thoughts, and their objectives. After any major water damage and after getting the injured to safety, your next course of action should be to notify your insurance provider. Establishing and maintaining an open and frequent line of communication with your insurance provider will only go to benefit your business.
Bringing In The Pros Might Be Necessary
Not reacting promptly to water damage is only going to make the situation all that much worse. When you do finally go to start correcting things, you’ll be facing even more damage, potential mold growth, and other ruined inventory that maybe could have been saved. Water damage is extremely tricky and the best way to tackle it is with the assistance of trained pros. Such restoration professionals know exactly how to act and reduce the likelihood of more future problems. There could be hidden water damage behind the walls or underneath the flooring that you aren’t even aware of. Professionals know where and how to look.
Varying Cleaning Protocols
In major water damage cases, not everything will be salvageable. And what is salvageable might require different methods of saving. There are different guidelines for saving different materials. Insulation might be able to be dried out and saved, whereas cellulose-containing items might need to be discarded all together.
Your Problem Don’t End With Water Removal
Just because the water has been cleared from your building it doesn’t necessarily mean you are in the clear. It only takes a day or two before mold can set in. If there are areas where the moisture and humidity are still excessive, you could be facing future problems. Never just assume that because the water is gone your troubles and worries are over.
Call The Experts!
Any business owner should expect future problems. Owning a building is like owning a car, it’s a matter of when and where not if. You will experience problems at some point, so it is best to already have a restoration company in mind. Planning will only afford you the time you need to conduct the proper research. Vet your potential choices to the fullest of your abilities to ensure you pick the most worthy. Want to speak with our previous clients? Just have a few simple questions. Want to get us out on the property to establish a rapport? All this is possible with our free quotes and in-home consultations. Just give our local branch a call today.