5 tips for handling a commercial plumbing disaster
When you own a business, you have to be ready for anything. Emergencies can catch you off guard and derail operations.
Human error is one thing, but what about unexpected structural problems? Even if your building is well constructed and supervised, it can still fail you every once in a while.
Most people are hit with a plumbing emergency at some point. And like bad luck in general, disasters come at the worst possible time.
Don’t be sucker punched. A busted pipe, flooded bathroom, or leaky sink could stop your business dead in its tracks.
How would your customers react if your restaurant’s toilet overflowed?
If a pipe burst and soaked the hallway in your office, are you prepared to make up the lost time and wages spent on re-directing work, and fixing the problem?
If this happens, you need a professional who’s not only competent, but fast. For the best emergency plumbing services Los Angeles has to offer, call Fiskit Plumbing.
From Burbank to Woodland Hills, the South Bay to Hollywood, Fiskit is the city’s best service when it comes to helping you out of a plumbing fiasco.
Of course, the nature of emergencies is that they’re unpredictable and can happen at any time. Fiskit knows this, and is prepared to assist you 24/7.
Once you’ve called us, our licensed professionals will arrive shortly. However, in the meantime, you probably want to know what to do in order to minimize the catastrophe.
Here are a few tips on how to handle the crisis until the pros show up.
Alert management
If you’re an employee and, say, happen to stumble on to a flood, notify management right away so they can call us. The faster you initiate the plea for help, the faster we can arrive and solve the problem.
If possible, turn off the water valve
In larger, high security buildings, the water valve probably isn’t accessible to you. But if you are a smaller business, or work in a modest building, you may be able to shut it off – or at least alert someone who can immediately.
Turning off the water supply will stop the water from flowing, and making the problem worse.
Prepare an emergency plan
Most offices have a plan in place in case of fire; do the same for a plumbing disaster. Obviously not all crises will look the same, but with some general rules and designated roles in place (i.e., who will be in charge of clearing the area), you can make the hazard run more smoothly.
Customer appreciation
If you’re a B2C, be prepared to accommodate your customers.
If the emergency interrupts their experience, you’ll have to do some fast-talking, apologize, and perhaps even offer them extra service on the house. Don’t just shrug and say “better luck next time.”
Document
For larger issues, make sure you take photos of the damage, just like you would after a car accident. If the insurance company has to get involved, they’ll want to see evidence of your claim.
It’s easy to get stressed in the moment and forget to think about the long-term effects of the problem. Remember to keep a clear head, and document the issue in real time.