Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) recommends that homeowners be advised to replace flood-damaged heating and cooling equipment.
"Standing water in a yard, house, or basement can damage a home's heating, cooling, and water heating equipment, in ways that are not always readily apparent - putting families at risk," said AHRI President & CEO Stephen Yurek. "We advise homeowners to play it safe and replace, rather than repair, flood-damaged heating, cooling, and water heating equipment."
The heating and cooling equipment the organization recommends replacing if flood-damaged includes:
Gas Furnaces and Boilers: Contractors should check whether flood water has reached a gas furnace or boiler, since gas valves and controls that are especially vulnerable to water damage that might not be visible.
Electric Furnaces: An electric furnace is susceptible to corrosion and damage from flood water, creating potential reliability problems or safety hazards.
Propane Heating: Contractors should recommend and replace propane equipment as quickly as possible after a flood if there is the potential for propane leaks. In every case, contractors must replace all valves and controls that have been in contact with flood water. The gas pressure regulator on a propane system should also be checked. This regulator contains a small vent hole to sense outside pressure. For effective gas pressure regulation, this hole must always remain unobstructed. During a flood, debris can easily plug the hole, causing dangerous malfunction or corrosion.
Radiant Floor Heat: With this type of heating system, electrically-heated cables or tubing circulating a fluid are embedded underneath or within the flooring material. The cables warm the floor, which in turn warms the room by radiant heat. If the floor becomes wet from a flood, it can weaken and perhaps crack and may need replacement. Both electrical cables and tubing can be damaged due to a wet floor. Contractors may need to determine whether the system can continue to be used.
Heat Pumps and Air Conditioning Systems: If flood water has repositioned either the indoor or outdoor units of a split system even by a small amount, there is a potential for refrigerant leaks. The system will then require major repair or full replacement. If the refrigerant system remains intact after the flood, the entire system should be cleaned, dried and disinfected. Contractors should check the indoor and outdoor units' electrical and refrigeration connections, including all control circuits.
Ductwork: If a house under storm repair contains a central forced-air system, attention should also be paid to the ductwork.
Water Heating Systems: Whether a water heater uses gas, oil or electricity, if it was exposed to flood water, the unit should be replaced. A new water heater is a relatively small investment, and replacing it is fairly easy to do. If the water heater was more than five years old, the chances are good that a new unit will be more efficient, which will save the homeowner money in the long run.
In a gas unit, valves and controls can corrode. In an electric unit, the thermostat and controls can corrode. In both types, the insulation surrounding the unit will likely be contaminated and will be nearly impossible to disinfect. In addition, the insulation takes a great deal of time to dry and can lead to corrosion of the tank from the outside.
Even if water heater components have been cleaned and the unit seems to operate properly, parts may corrode in the future. Both gas and electric water heaters have a pressure relief valve that can corrode and stick after being exposed to flood water.
