Hurricane Sandy: Tips for Flood Damaged HVAC Equipment

While it’s been months since Hurricane Sandy ravaged the East Coast, and the flood waters have long since receded, people in the affected areas are still dealing with the storm’s devastation.

But building owners still dealing with clean up at their facilities might not realize the importance of properly cleaning flood-damaged HVAC equipment. And they also might not know if they must replace such equipment rather than clean it.

Once HVAC systems are submerged in water, they not only get dirt and debris inside of them, but they’ll also likely become contaminated with bacteria and fungi, warns the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Because microorganisms can grow on all HVAC components, a system must be thoroughly inspected after a flood, and properly cleaned and disinfected to ensure proper air quality and a healthy indoor environment for building occupants.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) President and CEO Stephen Yurek advised people to “play it safe and replace, rather than repair, flood-damaged heating, cooling, and water heating equipment.”

AHRI has released a list of HVAC equipment people should replace if its been flood-damaged. The equipment includes furnaces and boilers, air conditioning systems, heat pumps, radiant floor heating and water heating systems. Much of this equipment has components that are susceptible to corrosion when exposed to water.

The AHRI also explains that certain equipment such as water heaters will most likely require replacement after exposure to floodwaters because the insulation around them will be contaminated and nearly impossible to disinfect properly. For more specific details on AHRI’s recommendations for replacing flood-damaged HVAC equipment, read the organization’s press release.

In some cases, particularly when water exposure is minimal, HVAC systems can be cleaned and disinfected thoroughly enough to completely remediate them. The CDC provides steps on how to remediate flood-damaged HVAC equipment.

The organization first recommends removing and discarding all flood-contaminated insulation and filters.

You should remove all dirt, debris and microorganisms from flood-contaminated HVAC system component surfaces with a HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaner, such as one of Goodway’s industrial HEPA vacuums.

After removing the dirt and debris, clean and disinfect the surfaces of all the HVAC system’s components thoroughly with a product like Goodway’s MoldTek Mold & Mildew Cleaner & Disinfectant.

Government assistance may be available to help building owners finance the replacement of flood-damaged HVAC equipment. Contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for more information.

For more about mold clean-up and control read our recent post, Post-Hurricane Sandy: Mold Control for HVAC and Facilities.

Goodway offers several products that can effectively clean up mold infestations and prevent further mold growth. Our products are not only just appropriate for use on HVAC systems, but they can also be used on non-porous surfaces like floors and walls.

Next Steps:

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