photo by Merio- https://pixabay.com/en/users/Merio-1480566/

Flooding is one of the most common disasters. Flooding happens every day. Whether you had a pipe burst or the flood is coming in from the outside, a flooded basement is a common, though serious, problem. If you want to get through it with your commercial basement in the best shape possible, don’t delay: act fast. Following these three tips can help you save your basement.

1. Contact your insurance agent ASAP

You should be insured for commercial basement flooding. It’s a pretty common problem. The first thing you should do is to contact your insurance agent. Even a voicemail or email is a good start. The longer you wait to open your claim, the more difficult it will be to process the claim before you fix the problem. Dashing off a quick note now, accompanied by a picture, gets the ball rolling.

Once that initial contact is made, don’t forget to follow up! Keep documenting the flooding as it happens (assuming that it’s safe for you to be there, of course!). Reach out to your agent as soon as possible to formally open a claim and begin the insurance process.

2. Turn off utilities

Once commercial basement flooding begins it’s no longer safe in the basement. Turn off your utilities when you can. Water and electricity don’t make a good pair. Turn your electricity off even if you’ve already lost power. You don’t know when power could be restored to your building, and don’t want to be caught by surprise. Also turn off your water line if you have access to the main valve. Once water gets into your basement, more water is never going to be a good thing. Turning off the water can stop the leak if that’s what’s flooding your basement. Eve in the case of outside water flooding in, turning off your water will prevent water pressure and debris from locking your pipes loose and adding your water into the mix.

3. Don’t wait to restore

Commercial basement flooding is a problem for a professional. Your business deserves the best help, and that comes from a professional restoration team. The longer you wait to get professionals on the job, the worse the damage will become. Commercial basement flooding from any source invites mildew, mold, and pests into your commercial property. If the flood was natural, it could invite even more. Natural floods carry in oils, chemicals, and other debris that could be hazardous to human health. Bacteria and mold thrive in the aftermath of floods, as dampness spreads and rot sets in. Stop this in the bud by contacting a professional restoration team.

Commercial basement flooding is common, but still serious. Don’t wait for things to get better on their own–restore professionally! Turn off your utilities ASAP so you’re not contributing to the problem or making it more dangerous. At the end of the day, filing your insurance claim as soon as the flood starts is the best way to improve your situation.