What Do I Do About a Flooded Water Heater or HVAC System?
Oliver Is Here To Help
Hurricane Ida and other recent storms have caused unprecedented, historic flooding in our area. If your home was impacted by flooding, it’s critical you contact a professional to help inspect potentially damaged equipment. A flooded water heater or HVAC system in your basement should be replaced and not repaired if any part has been submerged in water or if the insulation got wet. If you’re unsure whether or not your equipment has been damaged in a flood, contact the experts at Oliver now. We can evaluate the situation and provide necessary recommendations.
Do I Need To Replace a Flooded Water Heater or HVAC System?
The Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) recommends that flooded water heaters are replaced immediately. Unfortunately, there is no way to repair the system. Once a water heater is exposed to standing water it’s critical that you take important safety precautions. The same goes for heating and cooling systems.
Whether your HVAC system is electric, oil-fired, or gas-fired it will still need to be replaced if it was subjected to flood water even for a short period of time. Standing water can cause a number of issues for HVAC systems including:
- Corroded valves and controls in a gas unit
- Corroded controls and the thermostat in an electric unit
- Contaminated the insulation that surrounds the unit
- Wet insulation takes a long time to dry and can cause corrosion from the outside
Consider Upgrading To New, Energy Efficient Equipment
If your basement was flooded and you need to replace you water heater or heating and cooling system, make sure you reach out to a professional instead of attempting to do it yourself. It’s imperative that inspections and replacements are performed by highly trained and qualified personnel.
There are a couple of things the experts at Oliver will always make sure we do when dealing with flooded equipment. Firstly, we always install a new Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve. It’s not advisable to reuse a valve that was exposed to flood water. Secondly, we make sure that the gas supply line doesn’t contain any moisture/water or dirt.
Our sympathies go out to all of the homeowners who were impacted by Hurricane Ida. While this is a very tragic event, you can turn the misfortune into an opportunity by taking this time to consider upgrading to energy efficient equipment that will lower your energy bills for years to come. Whether you need to replace your water heater, HVAC system, or both, Oliver Heating & Cooling is here for you. Give us a call at (888) 810-2681 to discuss your needs or schedule an appointment for an inspection today.
