Water in a commercial space costs you twice: the damage to the building, and the business you lose while it gets fixed.
The goal is to stop the water, dry the space correctly, and keep as much of the business open as is safe.
The first hour: stop the water
Do these in order:
- Shut off the water at the fixture valve or the main. If you do not know where the main is, find it now, before you need it.
- If water is near outlets, equipment or a panel, keep people away. Turn off power to that area only if you can do it without standing in water; otherwise call an electrician.
- Take photos and video of everything before anything is moved.
- Move inventory, files and electronics off wet floors.
- If you lease the space, tell your landlord or property manager. Most leases require it.
Do not start tearing out wet drywall or flooring yourself. What gets removed, and why, needs to be documented first.
Call us before you report it to insurance
Commercial losses often involve more than one party: the building owner, the tenant, sometimes a neighboring unit or the business whose pipe leaked. Each may have its own insurer.
That is why the first report matters. Call us first, so the report has facts and not guesses: where the water came from, when it started, and what is wet. Wrong information in that first call can cause problems with the claim later.
We are independent. We are not a preferred vendor for any insurance company, and we work for whoever hires us: the owner, the tenant or the property manager. We do not file, negotiate or manage claims. We document the loss, and you share that record with your adjuster, a licensed public adjuster or your attorney.
Know what kind of water it is
The IICRC S500 standard sorts water into three categories:
- Category 1: clean water, such as a broken supply line.
- Category 2: water with some contamination, such as a dishwasher or washing machine overflow.
- Category 3: grossly contaminated water, such as a sewer or floor drain backup.
The category changes what can be saved. With Category 3, porous materials like carpet and the bottom of the drywall are usually removed, not dried. In a restaurant, a floor drain backup is Category 3.
Containment: keeping the rest of the space open
In many commercial losses the whole space does not need to close. We contain the work area with plastic walls and HEPA air scrubbers, so the rest of the space stays open.
That is not always possible. A Category 3 loss in a food area, a problem with the electrical system, or a safety issue can mean closing for a while. For food businesses, the local health department has the final word. We will tell you plainly what is safe and what is not.
Working around your business hours
We answer 24/7, and our crew works nights and weekends on commercial jobs, so the noisy work happens when you are closed.
Drying equipment usually has to keep running day and night until the readings say the materials are dry. We plan where it goes with you, so aisles, exits and registers stay clear.
Documentation every insurer can use
Every party in a commercial claim wants the same thing: proof. We document the source, the damage and the daily moisture readings, so each party gets the same photos and numbers.
That record includes:
- Photos of the damage before work starts.
- A moisture map of the affected area.
- Daily moisture readings until the materials reach their dry standard.
- Photos of every piece of equipment in place.
Your carrier decides coverage. Our job is to give everyone the same clear record of what happened and what was done.
A certificate of insurance and a W-9 are available on request for property managers and building owners.
Before the next leak: an Emergency Response Plan
We offer a free Emergency Response Plan walkthrough. We walk the building with you, mark the water shut-offs and electrical panels, and write down who calls whom when something happens.
It takes the guessing out of the first hour, which is when most of the extra damage happens.
FAQ
Can you work after we close? Yes. Our crew works nights and weekends on commercial jobs. Drying equipment may need to run during business hours, and we plan its placement with you.
Will we have to close the whole business? Often not. With containment, the rest of the space can stay open where it is safe. Contaminated water, electrical problems or health department rules can change that.
Do you work with landlords and property managers? Yes. We work with owners, tenants and property managers, and we give each party the same documentation.
Do you clean the HVAC system if water reached it? No. A licensed HVAC contractor we work with cleans or replaces it.
Talk to us before the next step
Call FastFix Restoration at (818) 717-7431. We serve businesses in Ventura, Los Angeles and Orange counties.
FastFix Restoration | CSLB #1083206 | IICRC Certified Firm #65893608
Related: Water damage: what to do first