What To Do When Commercial Water Damage In Oak Park Hits Your Server Room

2/16/2017 (Permalink)

Speed is of the essence when handling networking devices, so don’t delay.

Commercial Water Damage

For most modern businesses, there is a beating heart; a hub of activity through which all aspects of the company flow. It is found in the server room because connectivity is the key to success in our fast-paced digital world. The question is, what happens when flooding threatens to take an operation offline?

Commercial water damage in Oak Park businesses is more common than you might think. So, server rooms are at risk, particularly when situated on the ground floor. Despite this, many companies still build their networking systems in the basement. If a pipe bursts upstairs or a structural fault lets rainwater inside, there can be trouble. Fortunately, the experts at SERVPRO can carry out water damage repairs fast, so that the impact of leaks is minimal. Keep reading to find out how our technicians do this.

Tackling The Immediate Danger
The first step, once the team arrives on site, is to prevent further damage from occurring. Most servers are not placed directly on the ground. For reasons of safety, the most important components are slightly elevated or secured in a sturdy housing. It is good news, particularly if the standing water is only a few inches deep.

In this case, the main danger is from humidity and water in the air. So, the best approach is to cover exposed servers and electrical devices with polyethylene sheets. They are not normally removed from the area until the standing water is gone. If they are planning to remove electrical items, the SERVPRO technicians need suitable, safe conditions.

Starting Water Extraction
If your server room is in the basement, the water cannot go away by itself. SERVPRO uses heavy duty extraction equipment to pump it out of the affected area and into a secure receptacle. The utmost care is taken when moving extraction tools in and out of the server room, so as not to dislodge moisture and cause further damage.

When urgency is an issue, as it is in a server room, desiccant dehumidifiers are a good way to speed up the evaporation process. They contain a silica gel which draws water particles out of the air at a faster rate. As saturated air turns into surface water (and secondary water damage), it is important to maintain a steady but rapid rate of evaporation.

Restoring Wet Machines
Removing vulnerable parts of server technology may be necessary. It is hard to remove moisture from electrical items, but it is not impossible. Usually, we partner with a third party contractor, who specializes in exactly this type of restoration. You can, of course, hire your own specialist if you prefer.

The electrical items are inventoried and taken to a treatment facility, where they get warmed in a way which dries the moisture without compromising the internal components. There are several instances in which SERVPRO consults with third parties. The aim is always to offer you the best possible service.

Speed is of the essence when handling networking devices, so don’t delay. The sooner you let SERVPRO of Coon Rapids / Central Anoka County take a look, the faster we can devise a water damage repair plan. Call us 24/7 on (763) 712-9712.