Can SERVPRO Rescue My Chicago Business Documents During Water Removal?

8/20/2020 (Permalink)

If you are concerned about keeping your business papers safe, give SERVPRO of Hyde Park / E. Bridgeport / Bronzeville a call at (312) 509-5000.

Chicago Business Owners Want To Know Their Valuable Papers Are Safe

Anyone who owns a business in the Chicago area knows how frustrating it is when something goes wrong with their business premises. As well as worrying about getting things back to normal, there is the added stress of dealing with damaged business property, such as papers and records.

If your Chicago business needs water removal, you might be worrying about your business’ documents. After all, paper is particularly susceptible to water damage. Even a spilled glass of water or a cup of coffee can render a precious text unreadable. So what happens in the event of a flood or leak?

Which Papers Are In Danger During Water Removal?

Most businesses keep all kinds of paper records. There is a drive these days to save more and more information electronically. However, the average company still has plenty of paper stored in its offices.

Some of the papers that might sustain water damage include:

    •    Staff records such as contracts, HR files, benefits, wages, passport copies, and performance reviews
    •    Customer records such as purchase history, personal details, sale agreements, or even legal or medical records depending on the kind of business
    •    Organizational documents such as emergency plans, building maps, reference books, training manuals, and building maintenance records

Is there anything I can do ahead of time?

SERVPRO believes that prevention is better than cure when it comes to water removal and damage mitigation. In general, the more waterproof you can make your building, the better. That means both taking care of doors, windows, and gutters and making sure appliances and pipes are in good condition and not likely to leak.

There are also some things you can do ahead of time to protect valuable business papers.

Store as much as you can in watertight filing cabinets and file boxes – if you can buy models that are also fire-proof, that is even better. If you cannot store something in a watertight container, try to store it on the upper stories of the building, and at least six inches from the ground. If you must keep papers on the ground level, again, try to keep them six inches off the floor if possible.

It is also a good idea to use electronic records as much as possible. If you are concerned about losing or damaging thumb drives or external drives, you can look into Cloud storage. Plenty of companies offer Cloud storage with excellent backup options.

Can SERVPRO do anything for water damaged documents?

Yes – SERVPRO technicians can send water-damaged papers out for freeze-drying.

Freeze drying is a high-tech process during which documents are frozen quickly to prevent further damage. Once the records are frozen, they are placed in a freeze-drying chamber with a powerful vacuum that removes air. The moisture in the documents is converted to vapor instead of back to liquid. Then, the vapor is collected outside the chamber, to protect the paper from getting wet again.

We understand how tempting it is to try and rescue damaged records, perhaps with a hair-dryer or placing them near a heater (people have tried these things.) Trying to recover papers without an expert can be dangerous at worst and ineffective at best. That is why it is vital to call us as soon as you can – We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

Does freeze drying work for anything else?

Although freeze-drying is mostly used for papers, it can also be used for:

    •    Vellum, drafting linens, and leather
    •    Photographs, stamps, and paper money
    •    Watercolor or acrylic paintings
    •    Tapestries, embroidery, or silk paintings or stitching

What about business emergency plans?

It is good to draw up an emergency plan for your business, with details such as the chain of command, who to call, insurance adjuster details, and how to shut off the water main. Of course, if you keep these details in a physical document, they are also in danger of water damage.

SERVPRO of Hyde Park / E. Bridgeport / Bronzeville knows that in cases of water cleanup, time is of the essence. We suggest taking advantage of the SERVPRO Emergency Ready Plan, or ERP. ERP is easy to use, and it is free to get started. Sign up online to create your profile, and download the free app. The app will guide you through a walk-through of your building and encourage you to log all the essential information.

Because your ERP is stored electronically, you do not have to worry about it getting damaged if your business needs water removal.

If you are concerned about keeping your business papers safe, give SERVPRO of Hyde Park / E. Bridgeport / Bronzeville a call at (312) 509-5000.