What Appliances Can Be Saved After a Flood

Democracy OF PENNSYLVANIA _ Department OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

FLOOD RECOVERY: Electric MOTORS AND APPLIANCES

ELECTRIC MOTORS

There are a considerable number of electric motors in your dwelling house. The furnace, either gas or electric, washer, dryer, air-conditioner, dishwasher, fridge, and freezer all have an electrical motor which may exist damaged by exposure to flood water. Equally always, safety should be your first consideration.

CAUTION: don't commencement up any heating, cooling or other electrical equipment that has come in contact with flood water. Serious damage and life-threatening injury can occur. Make sure all electrical equipment is either unplugged or power to it has been asunder at the primary breaker.

Any electric equipment that has an electric motor and has been subjected to alluvion water will need to exist inspected and evaluated individually by appropriate professionals before using.

Contact your insurance adjuster to determine your coverage for repair versus replacement, especially of heating and air conditioning equipment. If possible, also check your warranty. Alluvion damage to this equipment may not be covered by warranty. The objective is to make an informed conclusion on whether repair or replacement is the best course.

Successfully repairing an electrical motor depends on the following considerations:

_ the length of time the motor was under water

_ the age of the motor

_ the type of bearings involved and how they are lubricated and

_ the type of contaminants in the overflowing h2o.

Repairs, especially for heating and cooling equipment that has been exposed to alluvion water, volition likely be extensive. Manufacturers usually recommend that all motors, electric components, safety controls, and (in the instance of gas appliances) gas valves be replaced. A detailed and thorough cleaning and disinfecting of all components is also recommended.

Given the likely expense of attempting to take equipment repaired, replacement may be the best option. Especially considering the potential for selecting new equipment which is much more free energy efficient.

APPLIANCES

Evaluate big appliances i-by-one and make up one's mind whether it is more prudent to save or supercede them. In all cases, there are some general guidelines to follow.

Stoves

An assessment by a qualified appliance technician will assistance you determine if it is better to supplant or to refurbish the damaged stove. As a start, disconnect the stove and remove the back encompass to expose portions of the insulation. Allow the insulation to dry thoroughly before turning the stove on.

If the controls and rheostats have gotten moisture, accept them replaced. In gas stoves, you should e'er replace the airplane pilot orifices and gas control organisation if water is present. The interior surfaces must be cleaned and disinfected. Once the stove is operable, an extended "bake out" period is recommended. The high operating temperature of a stove volition help eliminate remainder moisture that could cause afterwards problems.

Refrigerators and Freezers

If your refrigerator or freezer was submerged in flood water, it should be replaced. Refrigerators and freezers comprise insulation that could be wet if the units were under water. This insulation is hard to achieve without destroying the cabinet of the unit. Information technology volition dry very slowly considering the cabinet walls remain relatively absurd while the apparatus is on.

Mullion heaters in some refrigerators, which eliminate condensation, are of further concern in h2o-soaked cabinets because they nowadays a shock risk. The slow dry-out of the insulation in refrigerator/freezers is conducive to the formation and growth of leaner carried between the walls of the cabinet by the flood.

When you replace your refrigerator, keep in mind that it solitary can account for equally much as 15 per centum of your energy upkeep. A typical new refrigerator with automatic defrost and a top-mounted freezer uses about 800 kiloWatt-hours (kWh) per twelvemonth; a typical twenty-year-sometime model uses about 2,000 kWh. Replacing your old unit can save considerable amounts of money and energy for years to come.

If flood water covered only a few inches of your flooring, information technology is probable that the insulation for a refrigerator/freezer is dry out, and you will only need to cheque the refrigeration system along the bottom and back of the unit. The organisation is sealed and unless it was punctured during the overflowing information technology should be in expert shape. Cheque all electric controls including the defrost timer, thermostats and other safety interlocks and replace them if there is significant water impairment.

Washers and Dryers

As with other appliances, clean, dry and disinfect your washing motorcar and dryer and have an electrician or appliance technician cheque all electrical contacts and connections. Replacement of these units' timer controls will likely be necessary.

If you decide on replacement, be enlightened that almost of the energy used by washing machines is used to estrus the water. Await for machines that offering several water temperature selections for both wash and rinse cycles. A load of laundry washed and rinsed in hot water can price as much as 20 times more than one using cold water for both cycles. Besides wait for machines that allow you to choose unlike water levels.

If you determine to supersede your dryer, you'll find that newer models are able to sense dryness and automatically shut off. Compared with the older models, which operate on a timer, a new model can save between 10 percent and 15 percent on energy costs.

Dishwashers

Clean, dry and disinfect your dishwasher and have an electrician or appliance technician check all electrical contacts and connections. Replacement of the timer control system will probably be necessary.

If you demand to replace the dishwasher, keep in mind that similar the washing motorcar, almost of the energy used by dishwashers goes toward heating h2o, so units using less water also utilise less energy. Many dishwashers have energy-saving features, such as "no heat" drying cycles and light wash cycles, which can salve both water and free energy. Units equipped with booster heaters volition heat water to the higher levels necessary to adequately clean and disinfect dishes (mostly 140 degrees F). This feature allows you to keep your water heater at a lower setting, thus reducing your household water-heating costs. For each 10 degrees yous reduce your h2o heater temperature you save three pct to 5 percent.

Small-scale Appliances

Yous volition need to unplug, make clean, dry and disinfect pocket-size appliances including microwave ovens, TVs, etc. inside and out. Examine them carefully and make up one's mind whether to repair or to supplant them. In some cases, simply drying the entire unit with conscientious attention to the electrical parts will be plenty. Allow an extended drying time before testing the apparatus.

Lighting

If yous must replace lighting, consider compact fluorescent lamps. They are more than expensive than incandescents ($15 to $20 each), but they final much longer and apply a groovy deal less electricity. Depending on how long your lights are on each day, installing compact fluorescents could salve you quite a bit of money over time.

Finally, afterwards a natural disaster where major rebuilding is necessary, be wary of opportunists who volition come into your area trying to turn a profit from your misfortune. Exist a cautious consumer.

_ Hire licensed contractors.

_ Always ask for references from previous customers, or bank check with consumer protection agencies.

_ Don't sign any contracts if you lot have doubts.

_ Don't pay for work in accelerate.

This fact sheet and related environmental information are available electronically via internet. Access the DEP-DCNR Web Site at http://www.dep.state.pa.us (cull data by Environmental Subject/cull Pollution Prevention and Compliance Assistance).

Adapted from a US Department of Free energy Publication, "Rebuilding Your Flooded Home: Guidelines for Incorporating Energy Efficiency"

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Tom Ridge, Governor

Section of Ecology Protection

James Thou. Seif, Secretary

0200 -FS-DEP1951 2/96

An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Activity Employe

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Source: https://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/watermgt/GENERAL/FLOODS/fs1951.htm

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