Can a water heater that was under water still be used?
Sometimes, but only after a technician has checked it. A water heater that was submerged or wet at its controls can have damage that is not visible, and it should not be restarted until the check is complete.
The check covers the tank, the controls, the gas or electrical connections, the flue or vent, and the pressure relief valve. The crew explains which of these were affected and what it recommends. Some units can be repaired, and others are not worth the cost of repair.
If the water heater was in the water for a short time and only its base was wet, the check may be quick. A unit that was submerged to its controls is normally replaced. Either way, the decision rests on the check and is made with the owner.
What should I do with an appliance before the crew arrives?
Turn off the power to the appliance at the breaker, do not restart it, and do not open its cabinet or try to dry it yourself. Photograph the appliance and the water line on the wall, and move other items away from it.
A washer or dryer with water in the drum should be left as it is, because pulling it out can spill water and debris onto the floor. Photographs of the unit, its model plate and the water mark on the wall help the record. Write down the model number if it is easy to read.
For a gas water heater or furnace, do not attempt to relight a pilot or switch a gas valve. If you smell gas, leave the building and call the gas utility from outside. Then call the line so the crew can plan the visit around the appliance.
Will the insurance pay to replace an appliance?
That depends on the policy and on how the damage happened. Many homeowner policies treat flood water differently from a sudden leak. The insurer decides what is covered, and the records made during the check are what it reads.
A homeowner policy sets out what appliances it covers and how flood or water damage is treated. The crew cannot tell you what your policy pays. What the crew can do is record the unit, its condition, the water it took and the reasons for its repair or replacement.
Keep the model numbers, receipts and photographs for each appliance. The insurance guide on this site explains how a complaint about a claim is made in Louisiana, and the records in this section are the ones that help a claim be reviewed.
Are the controls on a newer appliance more sensitive to water?
Newer appliances often use electronic control boards, and those boards can be damaged by water even when the cabinet looks dry. The crew treats a unit with electronic controls as needing a check, not as a unit that is safe because it looks dry.
A control board that has been wet can corrode or short out later, and the damage can appear after the appliance has been used for a while. The technician explains what can be tested on site and what can only be assessed by the manufacturer or a repair service.
The check is not a guarantee of how the unit will perform in the future. It is a record of what was found on the day, and the owner decides what to do with that information.
