Water damage can occur with very little warning. Whether caused by burst pipes, severe weather, or even your own fire sprinkler system, water damage can be destructive and cost you thousands of dollars. Developing a comprehensive water damage restoration plan is crucial for both homes and businesses. By having a plan in place, you can prevent the damage from occurring in the first place, minimize the scale of that damage, and make sure that you can recover quickly.
Here’s how to create a plan that helps you minimize your risks, quickly respond to incidents, and restore any damage that does occur.
Understanding the Risks
Before you start working on an effective restoration plan, assessing your risks is always a good idea. Common causes of water damage include:
Plumbing Issues
Burst or leaky pipes can cause mild to severe water damage.
Natural Disasters
Heavy rain, flooding, and hurricanes can all pose serious water damage risks to homes and businesses.
Fire Sprinkler Systems
Fire sprinkler systems are incredibly important for keeping businesses and some residential properties safe from fires, but they can misfire or even continue releasing water after they have put out a fire. When this happens, the water damage can be severe. While having fire sprinkler shut off tools, like the Shutgun, can mitigate the issue, it’s something you should always be aware of.
Roof and Appliance Leaks
Whether it’s a leaky roof or an appliance that leaks water when it runs, gradual water accumulation can cause severe water damage over time.
Building Your Emergency Response Plan
Now that we’ve identified some of the most common causes of water damage, we can start developing an effective water damage restoration plan. Your plan should take all of the following into consideration:
1. Perform a Risk Assessment and Take Preventative Actions
Perform Regular Inspections
Schedule routine checks of your plumbing, roof, appliances, and sprinkler systems to catch leaks and other early signs of wear or damage.
Complete Maintenance Tasks in a Timely Manner
Ensure that all systems, including fire sprinkler systems, are maintained and tested regularly in accordance with NFPA guidelines or local standards.
Acquire Preventative Tools
Equip your property with tools that can help mitigate damage. For instance, the Shutgun Fire Sprinkler Shut Off Tool is highly recommended to deactivate a misfiring sprinkler head quickly. Keeping a Shutgun alongside fire extinguishers provides a rapid response option when the main water shut off is not immediately accessible.
2. Create an Emergency Contact List
When it comes to water damage, seconds matter. This is why it’s a good idea to have a single document that lists contact information for local plumbers, water restoration specialists, and even your insurance provider. Having these contacts readily available will streamline your response in a water damage emergency.
If you run a business, identifying staff members responsible for certain components of the plan will help speed things up. Their roles might include shutting off water sources, contacting professionals, using the right Shutgun tool if a fire sprinkler is causing problems, or even just assessing the scale of the damage.
3. Create a List of Immediate Actions to Follow in an Emergency
No matter what causes the water damage issue, knowing what to do to address the problem will always help you in an emergency situation. Every water damage problem is unique, but the following actions are generally the right steps to follow:
- Shut Off the Water: If you detect water damage, locate and shut off the main water supply immediately. In cases of accidental sprinkler activation, tools like the Shutgun and its variants, like the Concealed Head Shutgun or Sheared Head Shutgun, can be used to stop water flow at the source.
- Safety First: Evacuate the area of all personnel and ensure that all electrical systems are turned off to avoid potential electrical issues.
- Document the Damage: Once you know the situation is safe, take photographs and note down the extent of the damage. This documentation will be crucial when filing insurance claims.
4. Restoration and Clean-Up
Whether you attempt the restoration work yourself, or hire a professional water restoration service, the following actions are essential:
- Dry Out the Area: Remove pooled water and use industrial fans and dehumidifiers to reduce moisture levels and prevent mold growth.
- Clean and Sanitize: Remove debris and contaminated materials. Disinfect affected areas to ensure that no harmful pathogens remain. This is essential if sewage water causes flooding and damage.
- Consult Professionals: For extensive damage, hire water restoration professionals with the equipment and expertise to restore your property efficiently.
5. Review and Update Your Plan
After any incident, conduct a thorough review of your restoration plan. Make sure everything went smoothly and then identify areas that could be improved.
Final Words
While you always hope you never have to use it, creating an emergency water damage restoration plan can help protect your home or business. With careful planning and a rapid response, you can minimize risks, react quickly during an emergency, and quickly respond to problems.