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Equipment and Appliances: Repair or Replace?
Deciding to repair or replace gas and electrical appliances damaged by dirty floodwaters can be a difficult decision. Deciding to salvage or replace damaged equipment will be influenced by the length of time in the water, the level of the flooding and the amount of coverage allowed by the insurance and flood-relief programs.
Some things you need to consider are:
- Warranty -- Repairing the equipment or appliance may void the warranty.
- Reliability -- Dirty floodwater can cause parts to corrode, causing break downs.
- Age of the equipment/appliance -- New equipment/appliances offer better energy efficiency, thus saving money on monthly energy costs.
- Insurance coverage -- Allowances offered by the insurance adjuster
- Safety -- Corrosion or clogged parts not replaced can cause fire, explosion or electrical shock.
- Cost -- Extensive repairs for parts and labor may cost more than buying new.
IMPORTANT!!!
Any work done on electric or gas appliances and equipment should be done by a qualified, licensed contractor, not by a do-it-yourselfer, no matter how skilled
Equipment:
- Have a professional check for signs that the oil tank moved. Even buried ones can float when flooded.
- Have a professional check metal or brick chimney for cracks, dirt, debris and leaks. These problems can cause fires or carbon monoxide poisoning when the furnace is turned on.
- Manufacturers usually recommend that all motors, electrical components, safety controls and (for gas equipment) gas valves be replaced.
- Controls on water heaters, furnaces, boilers, room heaters and conditioners will become clogged when flooded in contaminated water.
- Defective gas or oil control devices can cause a fire, flashback or explosion.
- Defective controls on electrical equipment can cause a powerful shock, causing injury or death.
- Flooded water heaters (gas and electric) should be replaced.
- Any HVAC duct insulation that was in contact with floodwaters should be replaced.
- Ductwork with wet insulation should be taken apart, cleaned, dried and disinfected.
- Any HVAC ductwork in the crawl space of a flooded home should be replaced.
- Split system heat pumps should be replaced if one or both of units moved with the flood.
Appliances
- Call an appliance technician to check your appliances.
- Manufacturers usually recommend that all motors, electrical components, safety controls, and (for gas appliances) gas valves be replaced.
- Refrigerators and freezers with wet insulation cannot be salvaged.
- If there were only a few inches of water in the house, refrigerators and freezers are probably fine.
- Ovens and ranges are usually salvageable. Wet controls should be replaced.
- Have an appliance technician check and replace the pilot orifice and any valves on gas ranges that were in contact with floodwaters.
- Have an appliance technician electrician check all electrical contacts and connections on the washer and dryer and replace if wet.
Call the customer service of the manufacturers whose is on your major appliances (many 800 numbers are on the next page). They can give you advice or possibly financial help before you attempt to plug in the appliance.
Make the decision on replacing or repairing based on what feels right to you. Your safety and your life may depend on it.
The Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association recommends that all flood-damaged plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical appliances and related systems should be replaced rather than repaired. It also strongly recommends that all work on flooded equipment be done by a qualified, licensed contractor.
Customer Service Numbers for Most Manufacturers:
Appliances
Amana 1-866-616-2664
Bosch 1-800-944-2904
Creda 1-800-800-2733
Dacor 1-800-793-0093
Five Star 1-800-553-7704
Franklin 1-877-261-9867
Frigidaire 1-800-374-4432
Gaggenau 1-877-424-3628
GE 1-800-626-2005
GE Monogram 1-800-444-1845
Hamilton Beach 1-800-851-8900
Hotpoint (GE) 1-800-626-2005
In-Sink-Erator 1-800-558-5700
JennAir 1-800-536-6247
Kenmore 1-800-469-4663
KitchenAid 1-800-334-6889
LG 1-800-243-0000
Magic Chef 1-800-688-1120
Maytag 1-866-616-2601
Panasonic 1-800-211-7262
RCA 1-877-794-7977
Sears 1-800-469-4663
Sharp Microwave 1-800-237-4277
Subzero 1-800-222-7820
Tappan (see Frigidaire)
Thermador 1-800-656-9226
Viking 1-888-845-4641
Whirlpool 1-866-698-2538
Electronics
DIRECTV 1-800-494-4388 or TTY-1-800-779-4388
GE 1-800-447-1700
Hitachi 1-800-448-2244
JVC 1-800-252-5722
Mitsubishi 1-800-332-2119
Pioneer 1-800-421-1404
RCA 1-877-794-7977
Sony 1-800-222-7669
Toshiba 1-800-631-3811
Zenith 1-877-993-6484
How to Salvage Flood-Damaged Appliances, Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, Kansas State University
Safety Issues, Cleaning and Restoration of Flood Damaged Retail Food Facilities, Orange County Health Care Agency, Orange County Environmental Health, www.ocfoodinfo.com/flood.htm
Experts Warn that Flood-Damaged Appliances should be Replaced, www.aluminumwirerepair.com/webapp/GetPage?pid=89
Retrofitting Flooded Homes, National Affordable Housing Network, www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/95/950108.html
Repairing Your Flooded Home, American Red Cross, FEMA,
http://www.redcross.org/static/file_cont333_lang0_150.pdf
All flooded gas plumbing, heating, cooling equipment, and electrical appliances should be replaced rather than repaired.
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