How Can I Dry My New York City Business Out After Flooding?

6/30/2020 (Permalink)

Don’t force your customers to find a new convenience store. Contact team SERVPRO when facing flooding.

SERVPRO is ready to come to your New York City commercial property and give you the support you need to reopen as quickly as possible

Seeing your New York City business for the first time after flood water entered can feel overwhelming for what to do first. Even though in many cases the water itself recedes within a short time, the smell, the soaked contents, and other issues need fast action. That is why it is crucial to engage professional mitigation services as soon as possible so you can limit loss to the property and contents and reopen for business and get life back to normal.

What Should I Do First in My Business Property After Commercial Flood Damage? 

If commercial flood damage occurred within your New York City business property, the first thing you should do is ensure safety for all and avoid contact with the water. Until SERVPRO techs arrive on-site and test the water, so you know if any harmful bacteria or pathogenic elements are present. Helpful actions before their arrival include: 

• Have the power to the property turned off if there is any danger of the water coming into contact with outlets on the floor  
• If it is safe to do so, remove relevant documents 
• If you have equipment that needs removal, notify the crew chief after the technicians arrive
• Close off entrances to the loss area

Fast Extraction Tactics Get Your Business Reopened As Fast As Possible

SERVPRO technicians arrive wearing protective gear, including respirators, as the aspiration of water vapor containing contaminants has the potential to be injurious. The techs test any remaining water on-site to determine any harmful elements and scope the property to ascertain all areas of water loss in New York City. The extraction equipment chosen depends on the size of the space they are performing water removal within. For example, portable pumps are ideal for small spaces. When large amounts of debris are also present in the water, truck-mounted pumps pull out thousands of gallons of water in a short time. Frequently, the techs use portable pumps afterward to ensure the maximum amount of water gets removed to lessen the time needed to dry the structure. 

What Makes Flood Water So Different the Water From a Broken Pipe?

Initially, the water that invaded your commercial property may not look or smell harmful, and it picked up everything along the way before it entered your space. It has the potential to contain a myriad of unhealthy elements. This is why coming into contact with it should be avoided unless you have protective clothing, including goggles and respirators with HEPA filtration as some harmful bacteria and pathogens can enter the body via aspiration or mucous membranes.    

Other hazards within flood water are:  

Debris such as sharp rocks, nails, and glass

The danger of shock from standing water within the property

• Chemicals
• Toxins  
• Sewage  

SERVPRO techs run air scrubbers to improve air quality during the mitigation. These machines have a network of HEPA filtration that captures airborne molecules and traps them, improving air quality. 

You Need Professional Drying Equipment for the Best Outcome   

SERVPRO technicians do not rely on large industrial fans to do the drying job. Instead, they deploy multiple air movers along with dehumidifiers. Because of the connection to a national brand, they have the power to bring in as much equipment as needed to dry the entire property at once instead of in stages, which can result in additional loss. 

Professional Odor Control Applications and Sanitizing are a Must After a Commercial Water Loss

The aftermath of a clean water spill within a property has a very recognizable musty odor. Floodwater tends to stink outright, particularly so if sewage was part of the issue. Because of this, more intense methods may get used to ensure that the property is odor-free before any repairs occur to get the business ready to reopen.

Proactive Ways to Limit Commercial Water Loss in the Future

Once you have been through a flood water cleanup, it gives you a good idea of vulnerable areas on your property that need improvement. Your insurance adjuster can work with you to provide you with a monthly inspection list to cover common reasons for flood loss, such as checking the grade of your property to ensure rainwater flows away from the building along with installation or repair to the gutter systems. Looking for signs of interior leakage such as water spots or mold growth can catch a problem early on before it becomes a significant one. The installation of an environmental monitoring system detects both fire and increases in moisture in the air. It can alert you to a water loss situation such as a flash flood or a pipe break during off-hours or weekends.

SERVPRO of Lower East Side Manhattan at (332) 900-2337 brings the equipment and expertise to handle any size commercial flood damage to your property. The certified techs are available 24/7 and arrive quickly to clean up the loss, protect contents, and restore your property and get you back in business as soon as possible.