The effects of flood damage can be disastrous to a commercial business. While it can be easy to focus your attention on water damage caused by flooding, it’s important not to forget the safety concerns regarding electrical failure. Electricity poses a danger even under normal circumstances. Adding water from severe flooding to the mix only increases the risk of danger. Paul Davis Restoration of North Dallas offers flood damage restoration and repair services to commercial businesses in and around North Dallas. Here, we discuss how to manage electrical equipment in a flood zone.
Be Mindful of the Risks after Flooding
If your business has experienced a flood, it’s important to take action quickly to minimize the damage and operational downtime. However, that doesn’t mean you should rush into your commercial building and begin cleaning up. Entering a building with standing water can be extremely dangerous. Because water is a natural conductor, the threat of electrocution during flooding is extremely high. Flood water near any outlets or appliances may create unsafe electrical conditions.
Simply shutting off the power to your property’s main breaker isn’t enough to guarantee safety. To render a building completely safe, a qualified professional must ensure all power to the building is cut off. Only then is it okay to enter.
Don’t Try to Salvage Flood-Damaged Electrical Equipment
When first entering your commercial property, you may start looking around to see what can be salvaged. Unfortunately, electrical equipment that was underwater is unsalvageable. That means panel boards, switchboards, receptacles, furnaces, appliances, and any other electrical components will need to be replaced. Additionally, all water-damaged electrical wiring and cables will need to be replaced. These components are unsalvageable because after being subjected to flood damage, they pose serious fire and life safety hazards. Attempting to salvage them is generally not worth the risk.
If you are set on trying to salvage pieces of electrical equipment, remove them from the property and allow them to air-dry in a protected area for a few days. Most importantly, never attempt to use or power on any electrical equipment that hasn’t first been inspected by a professional. Only once an electrical component is deemed safe should you try and use it.
Get in Touch with Your Insurance Company
If you have commercial flood insurance, you will want to reach out to your insurance provider to file a claim. Notifying your provider as soon as possible once the flooding occurs is important to speed up the process. Your insurance provider may ask you to provide detailed information regarding the damage caused by flooding, as well as provide photos or videos. More than likely, your insurance company will send a representative to your location. This representative’s job is to assess the damage to determine the amount you will be reimbursed.
Employ Commercial Flood Damage Services
Our restoration specialists quickly arrive on the scene after getting an emergency call. We evaluate the situation and begin our process of restoring your business. All our restoration services involve state-of-the-art technology and equipment. The remaining water on site is dealt with using vacuum pump technology. Moisture detection equipment is used to determine whether any areas of harmful bacteria are present. From there, your property is dried out and cleaned of any debris leftover from flooding. Once all existing water is removed and the area is cleaned, we perform restoration services to return your commercial business to its pre-loss condition.
Call the Pros at Paul Davis Restoration of North Dallas Today
Business owners work hard and make many sacrifices to maintain their businesses. At Paul Davis Restoration of North Dallas, we believe your hard work shouldn’t be destroyed because of commercial flood damage. With a team of fully licensed and experienced restoration professionals, we offer advanced restoration services after a flood or any other type of disaster. Our team of insurance professionals will even work directly with your insurance company to streamline the process.
Business owners across North Dallas and the surrounding areas wishing to learn more about our professional restoration services can contact us today. Let us tell you why Paul Davis Restoration of North Dallas is the right restoration team for you.
