Are you a victim of water damage on your premises? Whether you receive customers or prospects as part of your professional activity, you must react so that the disaster does not get worse. In this article, we will look into the steps to take in the event of water damages.
What Should I Do When I Discover Water Damages?
You discover one fine morning that you are a victim of water damage in your professional premises. This first thing to do is to prevent the loss from getting worse. The reflexes to have in this situation are as follows:
- Identify the source of the leak. Does it come from your premises? Is it exterior?
- Shut off your water supply if the leak comes from your home.
- Protect goods that can be damaged by water such as electrical appliances.
- Ventilate and dry your premises and take photos of all your property damaged by water damage.
You must also call your insurer to inform him of your loss; he will tell you what to do. Depending on your situation, he may send a water damage restoration company to your professional address so that they can make the necessary repairs.
How To Report Water Damage From Professional Premises?
You must create a file to send to your insurer to declare your claim. The documents that must appear in it are:
- A detailed declaration of your water damage (date, origin) if the source is located on your premises and you are the only victim.
- An exhaustive description of the damage taking your movable and immovable property into account.
- Documents that can justify the value of your damaged property.
- The supporting documents (purchase invoices, repair invoice, etc.) if you had to involve a plumber for emergency repairs.
- Photos of your company’s property damaged during the disaster.
Water damage can occur due to an overflow of an obstructed gutter or a pipe leak. These situations are avoidable. Some simple and not very restrictive precautions make it possible to prevent the risks of water damage. They include:
- Have your pipes, and drainage pipes serviced regularly
- Monitor your walls and ceiling to identify any new water infiltration
- Inspect your water supplies and seals
- Keep your premises frost-free in winter
- Close all openings when there is no one left on your premises
- Remember to remind your employees that they should not leave any water without first closing the taps.
