The recent flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana has left thousands of people homeless and seek shelter elsewhere. The road to recovery will continue for months. Up here in New England, we have a less chance of flooding but the Flood of May 2006 was a major flood event that caused significant damages and hundreds of residents were evacuated from their homes as the waters rose.
Many flood affected homeowners will have to remove carpeting, drywall, and sheetrock to prevent mold growth. However, before the rebuilding process begins, electrical wiring, outlets, and switches may have to be removed.
Under normal circumstances, any person without an electrician license should NOT be repairing any electrical related work in the house. Adding water to the mix will only increase its danger of getting electrocuted. Although DIY is a trend increasing its popularity steady, yet this is something that you should leave to the professionals.
Before you enter your previously flooded home, you should have your home checked out by an electrician, utility worker, or firefighter. Shutting off your power at the main breaker switch will not be enough to guarantee safety. If your neighbor is using a generator, the energy can flow back to the grid. That’s why it is important to have an electrician that can disconnect the electric meter. Once the electrician gives the okay to go in, the electrical repair should be done along with other rebuilding efforts like the replacement of drywall and insulation.
Once a qualified professional gives the all-clear, it’s safe to begin the most urgent cleanup tasks. But the electrical repair work should not only be performed by licensed electricians, it should also be coordinated with other rebuilding efforts like the replacement of drywall and insulation.
Any appliances or electronics that were submerged a few inches of water have a very high chance that they need to be replaced. Refrigerators, ovens, tank water heaters are most likely not going to be salvageable. Appliances with motors that did not have the central unit soaked in water might be saved. The next step is to air dry the appliances and have them inspected, repaired by a repair specialist.
Contact Morrill Electric Today
If you recently had a flood in your home, contact Morrill Electric today. Have a safety check from our licensed electricians is extremely important after any flood event. For emergency electrical services, call us today. We are proud to serve Newburyport, Salisbury, Haverhill, Merrimac, Seabrook, and other areas in Greater Amesbury.