5 Steps to Take When an Elevator is Impacted by Water Damage

7/27/2021 (Permalink)

Contact the commercial water damage professionals for elevator shaft water extraction services!

Elevator water damage often occurs due to it being the lowest point in a commercial property.

The professionals at SERVPRO have restored thousands of commercial water damages. Commercial water damages often occur from a foundation leak, pipe burst, sprinkler malfunction, or flood event. Our IICRC certified restorers know to always check an elevator pit for standing water after any size commercial water disaster occurs.

One can only imagine how terrifying it must be for someone who is stuck in an elevator during a water damage disaster. For this reason, a commercial property owner needs to know what to do when a property's elevator has been affected by water damage. With the right plan in place, all members of a commercial property can avoid all unnecessary panic and chaos caused by elevator water damage. This blog post will discuss five steps a property owner or property manager should take when an elevator has been impacted by water damage.

Step 1) Ensure that there are not any patrons on the elevator

Ensuring that everyone is safe in the commercial property should be a property owner's greatest priority. When an elevator has been impacted by water damage, you or a property manager should go to the elevator and make sure that there are no people inside of it before initiating any other steps.

Step 2) Turn off the elevator power

Water and anything electrical will never go together. A commercial elevator consists of multiple high voltage electrical wiring that will be damaged when coming into contact with water. To avoid electrocution and a power surge, you should shut off all power to the elevator.

Another reason you will want to turn off all of the elevator power is to avoid an electrical fire. Water can touch an exposed elevator electrical wire, causing it to spark and ignite a fire. The last thing a property owner wants is a water and fire damage disaster. 

Step 3) Shut off all water sources

Suppose the water damage was from a broken pipe or a sprinkler system malfunction. In that case, you should make sure that the water supply valve is completely shut off to avoid additional gallons of water damage from occurring.

Step 4) Contact your elevator repair company

Whenever there is damage to an elevator, it is best to contact your elevator repair company to ensure everything is functioning in order.

Step 5) Contact a water restoration company

Contacting a professional water extraction service is crucial when there is water damage in an elevator shaft. A professional water restorer will know how to properly dry the elevator water damage and apply an antimicrobial agent to avoid mold growth.

SERVPRO can handle any size elevator water damage

Countless customers have relied on the professionals at SERVPRO of North Fulton for commercial water damages. Our professionals have built a powerful reputation throughout the greater Atlanta region by prioritizing quality customer service and quick response times. In the restoration industry, you must be fast-acting to ensure the damages are mitigated quickly.

If elevator water damage has impacted your business – don't hesitate to call us! We have professionals available 24/7 for any size of commercial water damage. You should also consider calling us too if you are not aware of the location of your property's emergency shut-off valves.

SERVPRO of North Fulton offers a free Emergency Readiness Plan (ERP) for any property owner to ensure their property and members are safe when a disaster happens. Our well-constructed Emergency Readiness Plan will include the location of all emergency shut-off valves, a copy of blueprints, and important contact numbers.

Contact us today!