In our country, it can be very wet. As a result of rain, hail, or snow. And often this leads to a leaking roof, a flooded floor, or a flooded basement. Water damage in your shop or business premises. A horror for you as a retailer or SME. Not only because of the hassle but also because you may have additional costs and lost sales. How can you prevent or limit the risk of water damage? And if you do have water damage, how do you report it?
Water damage to entrepreneurs
Every year, hundreds of companies in the Netherlands experience the consequences of water damage. Due to the weather or burst pipes. Sometimes the damage is limited: some leakage spots or a few soaked items. Very annoying, but no damage to hinder you. Your business can continue as usual. But sometimes it is more dramatic. For example, if the stock cellar is flooded. Or if you have so much water damage that you have to close the case for some time. In addition to repair costs, you also miss turnover. So you want to prevent water damage. Or reduce the chance of it.
This way you prevent water damage
As an entrepreneur, you want to rule out the risk of water damage as much as possible. How do you do that? It is best to check your business premises twice a year according to a fixed pattern. Do this, for example, in the spring and autumn. Below you will find only tips that your checklist can consist of.
- Check the ceiling: circles, stains, or hanging ceiling plates indicate leaks.
- Put your stocks and sensitive goods on shelves or on pallets.
- Keep the main tap free so that you can shut it off quickly in the event of an incident.
- Check your roof: check the roof covering, the water drains, and the connections with facades.
- Keep your roof and gutters clean: prevent clogged downspouts and gutters. Purchase a downspout leaf grate to avoid leaf clogging.
- Place drainage gutters, elevations, thresholds, or a sheet pile wall if your company is lower than the surrounding area.
- Regularly check your water pipes for drops or leaks.
- Place water sensors with reporting (so-called guinea pigs) in places where you hardly come, such as in basements or crawl spaces.
- Purchase slurp bags for any spills.
- If you know that it will freeze, prevent water pipes from freezing by closing the water pipes in time.
- Prevent central heating pipes from freezing with, for example, insulation.
Still water damage? Fix it, report it!
Do you still have water damage despite your alertness? Then that damage must be repaired immediately. Without too much additional inconvenience. Without unnecessary consequential damage. You must also report your water damage to your insurer or as soon as possible. You can also ask Water Restoration Company to restore if there’s any issue. First, they will find the cause of the situation and then they will help you get rid of it.
