Flooding: Before & After
Restoring Vital Services — Flood-damaged electric appliances
When you return to a flood-damaged home, do not turn on any household mechanical equipment before you are sure it is clean, dry and that rotating parts turn freely without obstruction. Starting this equipment prematurely may ruin it.
Examine motors of pumps, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, food mixers and other household equipment before starting.
Thoroughly clean automatic washing machines before using. Open gear housings and clean the shaft and gears with kerosene. Wipe all parts with a clean cloth. Grit, not readily seen by the eye, may cause wear to moving parts when they are put into operation.
Clean all parts without forcing dirt into bearings. Wipe metal surfaces with a rag wet with kerosene to remove dirt. Coat with light machine oil to prevent further rusting. Before using, oil the bearings. Using a soft cloth, dry all surfaces.
In refrigerators and food freezers, the compressors, including motors, are hermetically sealed: They cannot be cleaned or checked, but their construction should rule out internal damage due to immersion in flood water. Refer to air conditioning equipment section for more information.
Clean controls on flooded electrical equipment with clean water, then dry thoroughly and spray with Graybar CRC 2-26 or Electro-Dry or other similar product.