Don't plug in or turn on any appliance that stood in flood water until it has been inspected. Water can short control boards and motors and create a shock or fire risk. Gas appliances whose controls were submerged generally need those controls replaced, not dried out.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Can you DIY it? | No. Inspection first. |
| How urgent? | High, for safety and for insurance documentation |
What should I do first?
- •Make sure power to the basement is off before stepping into standing water. If you can't do that safely, call an electrician or your utility.
- •Don't plug in or turn on any affected appliance.
- •Photograph the water line on each appliance and the room before cleanup. Insurers will want it.
- •Write down model and serial numbers.
What can usually be saved?
It depends on how high the water rose and what it touched.
Water below the motor and controls (an inch or two on the floor): washers and dryers can often be cleaned, dried and tested.
Water over the motor, pump or control board: each part needs inspection. Some can be replaced, but repair costs add up quickly.
Refrigerators and freezers: flood water can soak the insulation, and contaminated insulation can't be cleaned. Units that sat in deep water are usually a loss.
Gas dryers and gas ranges: if the gas valve or controls were underwater, safety guidance is to replace them rather than reuse them.
What about sewage or salt water?
Flood water that came in through floor drains or from the ocean (common in coastal neighborhoods) is contaminated or corrosive. Appliances exposed to it are rarely worth saving, especially anything that touches food or clothes.
When should I call a technician?
Once the area is dry and power is safe. We'll inspect each appliance, tell you plainly which are worth repairing, and provide written findings you can send to your insurer.
Elliott's take
The instinct is to plug the washer in "just to see." Please don't. A wet control board that might have dried out and survived can fail for good the moment power hits it.
Related: All appliance repair services · Nor'easter Checklist: Protecting Your Appliances Before and After the Storm
Basement flooded? Call TrueFix Boston at (857) 810-1119 once the area is safe.