FLOOD DAMAGED HEATING & A/C EQUIPMENT

The following are suggested steps in caring for flood damaged furnaces and air conditioning units compiled by Lennox Industries.

• Any unit that has been partially or completely submerged should be serviced before it is turned on. Failure to do so can cause further property damage and/or personal injury.
• The extent of the damage will depend on the depth of the flood water and the length of time that the unit was submerged.

Gas or Oil Furnaces

1. First, the furnace must be thoroughly cleaned and inspected by a professional. This may require removal and disassembly dependent upon depth of water and length of time submerged. Remember, do not turn the furnace on before it is inspected.
2. All electrical and safety components that have been under water must be removed and replaced with a new part.
3. Burners that have been under water must be thoroughly cleaned and/or replaced.
4. Foil-faced insulation is secured to the furnace cabinet with water-soluble glue. If insulation has been under water, it must be replaced with 1.5# density 1/2" thick foil-faced insulation.
5. Units with belt-drive blowers !! Clean and regrease or replace blower bearings.
6. Clean and thoroughly dry all electrical wiring.
7. After repairs have been completed, unit must be run through an operational safety check. Safety devices must be checked to ensure they are working properly.
8. Repairing and replacement of components may still not insure that you will not have problems at a later date. Corrosion and part failure does not always show up immediately. Replacement is usually recommended, depending on exposure to flood water.

Air Conditioning Systems

1. First, the A/C must be thoroughly cleaned and inspected by a professional. Remember, do not turn system on before it is inspected.
2. If refrigerant circuit is not broken, the unit must be thoroughly cleaned. This will probably require that the unit be washed down with a garden hose.
3. All electrical controls, fan motors and compressors that have been under water should be replaced with new parts.
4. Clean the evaporator.
5. If the refrigerant circuit is broken and has been under water, the complete system – condensing unit, refrigerant lines and evaporator !! should be replaced.

Water Heaters

1. First, the water heater must be thoroughly cleaned and inspected by a professional. Remember, do not turn water heater on before having it inspected.
2. If the floodwater was up on the tank, the insulation between the walls is damaged. In this case obtain an estimate to replace the water heater.
3. If the burners and control boards were completely submerged in flood water, the water heater should be replaced.

Notice and Disclaimer

The above list is not all-inclusive. Laney’s Inc., IAEI, and UL disclaim any liability for personal injury or damages of any nature, resulting from this information. Each individual is encouraged to seek professional services from a trained and qualified electrician or electrical inspector.

Experts Warn that Flood-Damaged Appliances Should be Replaced

ARLINGTON, VA - All flood-damaged plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical appliances and related systems should be replaced, rather than repaired, warns the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association (GAMA). The organization representing all major producers of natural and LP gas equipment also strongly recommends that all work on flooded equipment be performed by a qualified, licensed contractor, not by homeowners.

The GAMA warning stems from past reports of accidents resulting from improper do-it-yourself repairs of flood-damaged appliances. One homeowner, for example, suffered severe burns in a flash fire that occurred when he tried to re-light the pilot on his flooded gas water heater. The Association stresses that not only gas equipment is at risk, but also units using oil or electricity as the energy source.

"Controls damaged by flood water are extremely dangerous," notes GAMA President C. Reuben Autery. "Attempts to use equipment with defective gas or oil control devices can result in fires, flashbacks or explosions. And in the case of electric appliances, the result can be injury or even death from a powerful electric shock." The GAMA official noted that devices at risk include water heaters, furnaces, boilers, room heaters and air conditioners.

The Association stresses that the repair of flooded appliances and related systems (including damaged venting and electrical connections) is not a job for the do-it-yourselfer, no matter how skilled. This is particularly true of control valves, according to GAMA officials. These components are manufactured to extremely close tolerances. Once submerged in flood water, they must be replaced. Field repairs should never be attempted by the homeowner.

Even when controls appear to be operative, the unit should not be used after flood waters recede. "It may work for a while," Autery explains, "but it will deteriorate over time. It might take a week, a month, or even a year, but once any control has been under water, it presents a serious hazard...fire or explosion in the case of gas controls, fire or shock in the case of electric equipment."

Because so many things can go wrong as a result of flood water, it's usually cheaper, and always safer to replace, rather than repair, Autery stresses. "You can have a control valve replaced, but there may be damage to other parts of the unit, like venting, piping, burners and insulation. There are just so many things that can go wrong, the wise choice is always to start over with new equipment," the GAMA official declared.

In some instances, government aid may be available to help consumers finance the replacement of flood- damaged heating equipment. For information, homeowners should contact any of the offices of the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), set up to help flood victims.

You can always contact us for more info!