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Hi everyone! Jarrett Dixon here, owner of Master Restoration. As a business owner myself, I know that the “open” sign coming down doesn’t mean the work stops. But there is nothing quite like the sinking feeling of getting a call from security or walking into your facility late at night only to hear the sound of rushing water. Whether it’s a burst pipe in the breakroom, a failed water heater in the utility closet, or a roof leak following a Florida thunderstorm, you need to know exactly what to do if your business has water damage after hours.
In a commercial setting, the clock moves even faster than it does at home. Every hour your business is underwater is an hour of lost revenue, potential data loss, and structural degradation. The very first step is safety and utility shut-off. If you can do so safely, locate the main water shut-off valve for the building and turn it off immediately. If the water is deep or near electrical outlets, do not enter the area. Locate your electrical panel and shut off power to the affected zones, but only if you can reach the breaker box without standing in water. Your safety and the safety of your staff come before any piece of equipment.
Once the water is stopped, you must call for 24/7 professional help immediately. This isn’t something that can wait until 9:00 AM on Monday. At Master Restoration, we keep teams on standby around the clock because we know that “mitigation” is the only way to save a business from permanent damage. A professional response team will arrive with industrial-grade water extraction units and high-speed air movers to stabilize the environment.
While you wait for the experts to arrive, protect your assets and document everything. If it’s safe to do so, move high-value items like computers, servers, and paper files to a dry area. If heavy furniture or desks can’t be moved, place aluminum foil or plastic blocks under the legs to prevent “wicking,” which is when water climbs up the furniture legs and causes permanent staining or rot. Take photos and video of the standing water and the source of the leak. This documentation is vital for your commercial insurance claim and helps us track the path of the moisture.
Next, consider business continuity and communication. If the damage is extensive, you may need to implement your emergency plan. Contact key employees to let them know the situation and determine if you need to pivot to remote work or a temporary location. Modern commercial restoration isn’t just about drying floors; it’s about getting you back in business. We use specialized drying techniques to save your structure and equipment so you can reopen your doors as quickly as possible.
Finally, ensure you are working with a company that understands commercial-scale drying. Commercial buildings often have complex HVAC systems, specialized flooring like VCT or industrial carpet, and dense building materials that require different drying protocols than a residential home. We use moisture mapping and thermal imaging to ensure that water isn’t hiding under your subflooring or inside your wall cavities, where it could cause a mold outbreak that shuts you down again weeks later.
Dealing with a disaster after hours is stressful, but you don’t have to face it alone. By taking immediate action to stop the water and calling in the Master, you can minimize your downtime and protect your bottom line.
Until next time, this is Jarrett Dixon reminding you: Got a disaster? Call the Master!