Electrical equipment, lighting, and appliances use electricity. Flood water can damage these items and make them dangerous if electricity runs through them.
Make sure the power is off and that all electrical supply materials, equipment, lighting, and appliances are clean and dry before you turn the power on.
It’s best to contact your electrical utility company, electrician, or an appliance repair company before you use anything with electricity. They can inspect your home and appliances to make sure it’s safe to use electricity.
Electrical equipment
Do not use any type of electrical equipment (such as outlets, switch boxes, or fuse or breaker panels) until they’re properly inspected by your electrical utility company or an electrician approved by the company.
Electrical equipment is not safe to use when it is wet and dirty. Wet dirt is an excellent conductor of electricity. This means electricity passes through it easily. If your electrical equipment is wet and dirty, it can cause the power to shut off suddenly (short out) or make it dangerous to touch.
Lighting
While the power is off, take apart lighting fixtures and lamps to check if they’re wet or dirty. Clean and dry all lighting before you use it.
Some light bulbs may be burnt out, cracked, or broken. Even though a light bulb may look normal after you clean it, it may still shatter the first time you use it. Make sure the shade is between you and the light bulb when you turn the light on.
Appliances
Do not use large appliances, like washing machines and dryers, if any part of the appliance was in contact with flood water. There may be dirt in motors and switches that could cause severe damage and electrical shock.
Contact a repair company to inspect and repair appliances before you use them. You may want to have your washer and dryer inspected and repaired first so you can clean clothes and other fabrics.
It may be best to replace small appliances that were in contact with flood water. Small appliances may cost more to repair than buy new. Before you decide to keep any small appliances, find out how much it will cost to repair them.
Furnaces and water heaters
Don’t use furnaces and water heaters until they’re inspected and serviced by a qualified technician.
Flood and sewage water have harmful microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, and fungi) that can grow inside your heating and ventilation (HVAC) systems. This can happen even if ducts weren’t in contact with flood water.
