What to Do in the Event of a Flooded Warehouse
A flooded warehouse causes havoc, stress and a huge clean-up job that takes precious time away from you and your business’ needs.
Between the flooded warehouse and packed schedule, having the support and professional expertise of Rainbow International is the solution to your problems. We can step in, take control, fix the problem and ensure that flooded warehouse guidelines are followed.
Knowing what you need to do in the event of a flooded warehouse can save you a lot of headaches, so we’ll explain everything you need to know in this article:
- What can cause a flooded warehouse?
- How to deal with a flooded warehouse
- How to protect your warehouse from future flooding
- How Rainbow International can help
What Can Cause a Flooded Warehouse?
It’s important to know the causes of flooding in a warehouse, as much as the potential impact of flooding. Having a good idea of how water can destroy your warehouse gives you opportunities to prevent it.
Rainbow International flood damage restoration experts have found that the main causes of warehouse floodings include burst pipes, faulty sprinklers, plumbing issues and natural causes such as storms or long-lasting rainfall.
Some of these issues are due to human mistakes, whilst others are natural causes. Either way, there are ways to prevent or limit the destruction of a flooded warehouse.
Inside The Warehouse
Inside the warehouse, there are many appliances, instruments and structures that can cause flooding across the entire building.
Warehouses often have a huge amount of inventory in which liquid can easily spread and damage across a variety of areas. Due to the scale of warehouses, it can take a long period of time before these leaks and floods are spotted. This results in the destroyed inventory and the affected areas being susceptible to mould and bacterial growth, causing even more problems down the road.
Outside The Warehouse
Outside the warehouse, you may have main waterlines, industrial plumbing or water containers. You are also open to the elements, so if there is a particularly bad bout of rainy weather, the warehouse may be vulnerable to flooding.
This can also be said for colder weather, which can cause pipes to burst and flood through the warehouse.
How to Deal with a Flooded Warehouse
Dealing with a flooded warehouse can be a monumental task that can take weeks if not months to fully restore back to its usual state.
Having skilled professionals take care of the situation with high-quality equipment and expertly designed processes is essential to have your business back up and running. Rainbow International’s team know exactly what to do so you can get back to what matters most.
Before the professionals arrive, you can take the following steps to minimise damage and begin the process of restoration…
1. Turn Off Utilities
If you spot a leak, or a flood has happened in your business’ warehouse, the first thing you should do is to turn off the utilities to the building.
This is regardless of whether it’s an internal cause or an external cause (such as a storm). By doing so, you minimise the risk of electrocution hazards from wet warehouse floors and water-logged materials. If it’s an internal leak, you will also cut off the water supply, which will lessen the amount of water that floods the warehouse.
2. Document the Damage
Once the utilities have been shut off, you should then take pictures of the damage caused by the flooding. These should be in detail and document every element of the warehouse that has been touched by water.
If you miss any damage, you may find that your insurance will not pay to fix it, or it could fester and continue to damage any surrounding areas and create long-lasting and costly issues.
3. Contact Your Insurance Company
When you have confirmed all damage has been documented accurately, contact your insurance company as soon as possible.
Doing this at the earliest opportunity will kick start the process of claiming back the cost of restoring your flooded warehouse, and will reduce the amount of time your business is out of action, along with how much stress you’re dealing with.
4. Clear Out Any Items You Can
In the meantime, begin clearing away any items that have become water damaged. Having any waterlogged machinery, furniture or inventory cleared out of the way will make handling the flooded floor much easier, and also speed up the process.
Relocate any surviving items, and discuss salvaging any important paperwork or documents with Rainbow International’s restoration specialists.
Flood Restoration Steps By Rainbow International Professionals
From here, hand over the work to water damage experts who know how to accurately, safely and professionally clear away water and restore your warehouse.
Rainbow International has developed expert processes that ensure all elements are looked after and handled with care. The flood restoration steps for warehouses have been curated over decades…
1. Remove Standing Water
To begin with, the water damage restoration specialists will remove any remaining standing water. This will be done by mopping flooring and blotting any saturated carpet, along with ventilation throughout the warehouse to help dry any wet areas.
If it is a particularly heavy flood, water pumps will be used to clear away any deep standing water, after which more damage assessment will need to be done.
2. Dehumidify
Throughout the whole process, the warehouse should be dehumidified using high-powered fans, dehumidifier machines and drainage tools. This will reduce the chance of further damage and remove any existing moisture that can develop into mould and create costly issues.
3. Deodorisation
Standing water can create a musty smell that is hard to get rid of.
Water damage restoration specialists will work to remove any odours from your warehouse Cleaning specialists will also be able to deodorize the flooded area within the warehouse by using sprays, fog machines, air purifiers and more. There will also be an element of disinfection at this stage to kill off any mould or fungus spores that may have already developed.
4. Contents Restoration
If your warehouse has flooded, there is a chance that some contents were damaged that are not easy to replace.
In these cases, Rainbow’s contents restorations specialists will be able to take these items away and try to salvage them by drying them out completely and working to restore them.
How to Protect Your Warehouse from Future Flooding
Prevention is key to avoiding dealing with the stress and financial cost of a flooded warehouse. Luckily, there are ways of protecting your warehouse from future flooding…
1. Invest in Dehumidifiers
Dehumidifiers are your best friend when protecting a warehouse from water damage, especially if you have a high-moisture warehouse from liquid inventory. By having good quality, high-capacity dehumidifiers, you can remove moisture from the air in the warehouse, which in turn will reduce the chances for mould and fungus growth.
2. Upgrade Piping
Piping can burst and cause huge leaks that will lead to flooding if not handled immediately. Reduce the chances of a burst pipe and consequential flooding by replacing them with higher-quality pipes instead.
This is well worth the cost too, as pipe water can be acidic and will do irreparable damage to your warehouse. Install stainless steel or durable material-based piping to avoid these costly leaks in the future.
3. Install Flooring Drainage Systems
Draining systems are vital for a warehouse that deals with any kind of liquid inventory in order to prevent flooding.
However, flooring drainage systems aren’t just for liquid inventory-based warehouses. Proper drainage systems within the floor are beneficial to any warehouse that wants to avoid water damage and flooring, and can often come in handy when you least expect it, saving you plenty of stress and costs.
How Rainbow International Can Help
Rainbow International’s expert team have decades of experience handling flooding in warehouses, helping businesses get back on their feet and avoiding future flooding. Our professional equipment and technical knowledge mean that you can relax knowing the job is being handled and your warehouse is being properly cared for.
Avoid losses from your warehouse being out of action and return back to normal in no time with Rainbow International. We’re here to help and we’ll ensure that your warehouse is ready to return to, water damage-free.
Get In Touch With Rainbow International Now!
Our team of experts understand how important it is to have your business back up and running. Water damage repairs and flood damage restoration should be handled by specialists who understand your needs and have a passion for getting a job done properly, so get in touch today.