What To Do If Your Furnace Is Flooded

11/1/2021 (Permalink)

Dealing with a burst pipe in Orlando, Florida, can feel like an overwhelming task. Divide the process into manageable steps to decrease anxiety, increase efficiency in the claims process, and get your furnace up and running again.

Document Damage

The furnace is most likely your top priority. However, it’s important to note other property damaged in the area. Use the following process to document losses and assign values in a notebook or spreadsheet:

• Photograph the damage,
• Write down the serial number or another unique identifier if available,
• Assign a value.

Don’t forget to include items that may have no monetary value but are still of high importance to you. Professional recovery services are available to try and save irreplaceable items such as documents or photographs.

Investigate Coverage and Decide to Repair or Replace

A burst pipe resulting in a furnace flood is an insurable event, so make sure to check with your provider. The Air-Conditioning, Heating, & Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) recommends replacement versus repair of a flooded furnace. Property owners may receive advice that the furnace will work again after a total dry-out and perhaps some minor electrical repair. However, the life of the unit is reduced. You likely don’t want to choose repair over replacement and have a related problem surface a couple of years later, long after the claim closes.

Care of Air Ducts

The quality of air from a furnace is only as good as the ducts it travels through. Your final task is to schedule a professional air duct cleaning to ensure ducts are clean, dry, and free of mold and debris. Thankfully, your friends at your local SERVPRO can take care of that for you.

Tasks associated with a furnace flood are something nobody wants on their to-do list. Take this systematic approach for the return of a safe and comfortable home. For additional information, call SERVPRO of Northwest Orlando at (407) 698-5155.