Water flooding your business? Get emergency commercial water leak help in Bedford.

If water is flooding or spraying right now

Act first and call second. Every minute of running water adds to the damage.

1. Stop the water. Find the main shut-off valve for the building and close it by turning it clockwise. If the leak is at one fixture or one line, close that valve first.
2. Get people out of wet areas. Wet floors are slippery, and water near outlets, panels and equipment is dangerous.
3. Turn off power in the wet area only if you can reach the breaker without standing in water. If you cannot, leave it and call the electric utility or an electrician.
4. Move stock, files and equipment out of the water's path if it is safe to do so.
5. Take photos and video of the leak, the water and the damage, with the date and time.
6. Call. Tell the provider whether the water is clean supply water, or if it is coming from a drain, which is a different problem.
7. Tell the landlord or property manager if you rent, and your insurer as soon as you can.

If the shut-off valve will not turn or does not stop the water, call the water provider as well. They may be able to shut the water off at the street.

Find your shut-offs before you need them

Most businesses cannot say where the main shut-off is until there is a flood. Do this today.

• Find the main shut-off valve for the building and test that it turns.
• Find the shut-offs for each restroom, the kitchen, the water heater and any equipment that uses water.
• Label them, and make a note of where they are for every shift and every manager.
• Find the street shut-off or the meter box and note whether it needs a special key.
• Keep the number of your plumber, your landlord and your insurer where staff can see it.
• Make sure someone with access to the building is reachable after hours.

A valve that is stuck, leaking or buried under boxes will not help in an emergency. If a valve will not turn, have a plumber replace it on a calm day.

Clean water or dirty water?

This matters for safety, cleanup and insurance.

• Clean water comes from a supply line, a water heater, a sprinkler line or a fixture. It is usually safe to remove, but if it sits for more than a day or two, it can become a mold risk.
• Gray water comes from a dishwasher, a washing machine or a sink drain. It carries soap and some bacteria.
• Black water comes from a toilet, a sewer backup or a flood. It carries waste and is dangerous. Stay out of it, keep staff and customers away and call for cleanup.

Tell the provider and your insurer which kind it is.

Common causes of commercial water emergencies

• A burst or cracked pipe, often after a freeze or from age and pressure.
• A failed fitting or flexible hose at a sink, a toilet, a water heater or equipment.
• A water heater leak or failure.
• A stuck or broken flush valve that runs and overflows.
• A broken sprinkler head or a fire line leak.
• A blocked drain that backs up into a floor drain, a restroom or a kitchen.
• A leak from the unit above in a multi-tenant building.
• Damage from construction or a vehicle, such as a hit meter or a nicked line.

What the plumber will do

• Confirm the water is off and the area is safe.
• Find where the water is coming from.
• Make a temporary repair if one is needed to stop the loss.
• Explain the permanent repair, with options and a price.
• Tell you whether the damage needs drying, removal of wet material or a restoration company.
• Give you an invoice and a written description of what they found, for your insurer.

Ask the provider how soon they can arrive and what an after-hours visit costs before you agree.

After the water is stopped

1. Document everything. Photos, video, a list of damaged items and a written timeline.
2. Remove standing water and wet materials that can be moved. A wet vac and fans help.
3. Dry the space quickly. Mold can start in one to two days. Open windows, run fans and dehumidifiers.
4. Do not throw away damaged items until the insurer has seen them or approved it.
5. Call your insurer and ask what they need, whether they have preferred vendors and what the deductible is.
6. Check below and beside. Look at the ceiling beneath, the walls next door and the floor under the carpet for hidden water.
7. Have a plumber check the cause so the leak does not return.

Business interruption and records

A water emergency can force a business to close for a day or more. Keep a record of the dates and hours you were closed, lost sales, extra costs and staff time. Some policies cover business interruption. Ask your insurer what proof they want, and keep the plumber's invoice, since it records the cause and the date.

Employees, customers and the next shift

A flood is also a people problem. Decide who is in charge and who calls whom. Tell staff plainly what is happening, where to stand and what not to touch. If customers are present, move them away from the wet area and out of the building if the floor is slippery or the power may be affected. Put out signs or cones where the floor is wet. If the building has to close, tell the next shift not to come in, and tell anyone expecting a delivery or an appointment. A short written plan, kept near the main shut-off, makes the next emergency calmer. Include the names and numbers of the manager, the landlord, the plumber, the insurer and the water provider.

Emergencies in Bedford businesses

Know where the main shut-off is before you need it, and test that it turns. In a leased space, ask the landlord today where the shut-off for your unit is. If water is spraying or flooding, close it, move people and stock out of the wet area and keep away from electrical equipment.

North Texas weather swings between hot summers and the occasional hard freeze. A freeze can split an exposed line in an unheated space, while summer heat and irrigation raise water use and can hide a leak in the bill. After an emergency, take photos and video for your insurer and landlord before cleanup, and keep the plumber's report and invoice.

What changes the price

This website does not set prices. What changes them:

• Whether the visit is during business hours or after hours.
• How long it takes to find and stop the leak.
• Whether a temporary repair is needed first.
• The size and type of the pipe or fixture.
• Whether drying or cleanup is included.
• Time of day and day of the week.

Ask how the price is figured, whether there is a visit fee and what an after-hours visit costs before you agree.

About this referral service

Bedford Leak Detect is a referral service and does not do plumbing or leak detection work. When you call, you are connected to an independent provider who sets their own prices and carries their own license and insurance. Ask about both.

After the water is stopped

Write down what happened and when, keep every receipt, tell your landlord and your insurer the same day and ask the provider for a written report of what was found and fixed.

Frequently asked questions

What do I do first in a water emergency?

Close the main shut-off valve, move people out of wet areas, stay away from electrical hazards, take photos and call.

Where is my shut-off valve?

Usually near where the water line enters the building, or at the meter. Find it and test it before you need it.

Should I call my insurer?

Yes, as soon as you can. Ask what they need and keep photos, invoices and a timeline.

How fast can mold grow?

Mold can begin in one to two days in damp materials, so dry the area quickly.

Is sewer water different?

Yes. It carries waste and is dangerous. Keep people out and call for cleanup.

Who comes if I call this number?

An independent local plumbing provider. This website only connects the call.

Other pages

• Commercial leak detection in Bedford, TX
• Hidden water leak detection in Bedford, TX
• High water bill investigation in Bedford, TX
• Slab and underground leak detection in Bedford, TX