Having any part of your home flood is a traumatic experience. In addition to all the inconvenience flood or backed up waters cause you, they can also destroy walls, flooring, and your heating and air system. If your furnace is exposed to standing water, you need the help of an experienced repair person to either repair or replace it.
Corrosion
Your furnace may appear to be okay on the outside, but wet conditions can cause hidden corrosion. The gas valves and other controls inside your furnace may be damaged by the water, but you will not know there is a problem unless you have the unit inspected by a professional. If the damage is ignored, your furnace could catch fire or even explode. Both gas and electric furnaces are vulnerable to water damage. If you are unsure if the flood waters reached your unit, do not operate it until it has been cleared by a qualified technician.
Replacement
The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute recommends that heating and cooling systems that have clearly been damaged by flood waters should be replaced. The chances of adequately repairing these units are low, and their reliability will be severely compromised. You can make the expense less painful by installing a new, energy-efficient furnace that will pay for itself over the years in reduced energy bills.
Ductwork
Do not ignore the ductwork. Once the ducts have been flooded, they are full of microorganisms that are health risks for you and your family. Even areas that were not flooded may suffer from contamination due to the wet conditions breeding unhealthy bacteria. Before the heating and cooling system is used again, a professional must inspect, clean, and disinfect the ductwork. Getting the system ready to run again may include removing insulation, filters, and some of the components. If the repair service cannot completely clean and decontaminate the ductwork, then you will need to have it replaced as well.
If your home has suffered flooding, either from drains backing up or flood waters, you need to have your heating and cooling system thoroughly inspected by a qualified technician. If your system escaped standing water, you may be able to repair it. However, if your furnace has actually been underwater, even partially, chances are you will need to replace it. You should rely on your heating and cooling professional to help you decide the safest course to take. Visit G K Mechanical (1997) Ltd if you need furnace repairs.
Share23 October 2015
My homes have always had either copper or PVC plumbing pipes. But when my plumbing system needed an overhaul last spring, I wanted a piping system for my home that I could work on myself when needed. There were a lot of good reasons to choose PEX piping, but my favorite thing about the PEX piping is that it's easy to work with, even if you're a beginner like me. Now I can make small repairs myself instead of calling the plumber every time I have a minor leak or other small problem. I still call the plumber for the big stuff, but it's more affordable now that I can take care of small issues myself. I started this blog to help others learn how they, too, can do DIY plumbing repairs at home.