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Caring for Your HVAC System After a Flood

Written by Comfort Solutions HVAC on . Posted in .

Experienced HVAC Technicians in Pennsylvania Advise

As extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common, more and more home owners have had to deal with the unexpected complications of flooding in their homes. If you have an HVAC unit that has recently been exposed to flooding, it is important to understand how to properly care for it after the damaging event and ensure that it is properly fixed by a trained technician. This will return it to good working order quickly and without any more disruption to your routine.

5 Steps to Check Your HVAC Unit After a Flood

If your home has recently experienced a flood, it is vital for you, your family and your contractor’s safety to follow these crucial steps. By ensuring these 5 steps are properly followed, you can get your HVAC unit back up and running as soon as possible: 

  • Get the “all clear”: Even a relatively minor flood can severely compromise the safety of your home, making reentry potentially dangerous or even life threatening. Especially if there is standing water in the house, this can put you at risk of electrocution from any exposed wires. Before attempting to return to your home after a flood, the best thing to do is have a qualified emergency responder, electrician or utility worker visit and inspect the site. They will be able to assess any damage to your home and give the “all clear”. 
  • Turn off the power: The first thing to do to when caring for your HVAC unit is making sure the power is properly turned off. If it has been damaged from flooding, continuing to operate can put excess strain on it and even make the damage worse. 
  • Record the water line: When a trained HVAC technician is working to assess damage to the unit, it is important for them to know how high the water level was during flooding. This will tell them which parts of the unit were likely damaged. As soon as you are able, mark around the HVAC unit where the water reached at its highest point using chalk or paint. 
  • Clear the area: Before any repairs to your HVAC unit can be undertaken, it is important for your safety and the safety of your technician to clear the area of any debris which might get in the way. This can be anything from waterlogged drywall to dead wires or damaged floorboards. The area should be open and easy to access, otherwise it may interfere with their ability to properly assess damage and make the necessary fixes.
  • Fix or replace: Once a technician has had the time to properly assess damage to your HVAC unit caused by flooding, they will be able to make recommendations regarding what needs to be repaired or replaced. Typically, ducting that is exposed to water damage is a guaranteed replacement, as it puts people in your home at risk of exposure to mold over time. Disposable HVAC filters are also must-replace items if exposed to water, for the same reason. Otherwise, often times what survives a flood and what does not, comes down to a case-by-case basis. 

After a flood, it is important that you have a trained HVAC technician visit your home to get your unit back up and running as soon as possible. Hiring someone who not only knows how to fix standard breakages, but also understands the unique challenges posed by flood damage is crucial to ensuring that nothing is overlooked and may result in further complications over time.

At Comfort Solutions, our experts technicians are highly trained to understand what is required to repair an HVAC unit following flooding. We bring our extensive experience and proven track record to every job, tackling the unique challenges of each with care for our client’s needs and satisfaction. 

To learn more about how to care for your HVAC unit following a flood, consult with our team of experts at Comfort Solutions. Call us at 610-438-9300 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.