With the hurricane season behind us and winter knocking on the door, you might be wondering what to do if your heating system is damaged by flooding or other causes. As I write this, thousands of people are still without power, or heat, in the New York/ New Jersey area.
First, you might be eligible for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Check here (www.disasterassistance.gov) to see if you qualify for testing, cleaning, or replacing a malfunctioning heating system.
Residents of counties that were declared disaster areas are generally eligible. Some state funds are available as well for people whose homes were trashed by Hurricane Sandy.
Also, check your own insurance policy. Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently announced that, with another storm on the way in New York State, insurance adjustors will have to accept photographic proof of damage.
If your house was flooded, you should call an HVAC company before you attempt to relight the furnace. (First make sure that your circuit breakers weren’t tripped during a power outage.) Find a qualified HVAC company here by typing in your zip code:
Your technician should be able to evaluate your system, tell you whether it can be fixed or needs replacing. They should also clean your ductwork, which may have been clogged with mud or other debris during the storm.
And if you were fortunate enough to escape damage so far this season, you might want to take some precautions before the next storm.
Briefly, here’s how to protect your heating system:
- See about flood insurance. You may need to add coverage to your existing policy, as few homeowners’ insurance policies automatically include flood protection.
- Make sure your main electrical panel is located well above the flood level.
- Situate your heating system on concrete blocks, or within a flood wall in your cellar. The system should be at least 12 inches above the floor. Or remove them to a higher level. Some furnaces can be hung from the ceiling if your joists are strong enough to carry the weight.
- While you’re at it, put your outside air conditioning unit up on blocks or a sturdy wooden platform.
- Make sure your fuel tanks are above flood level, on a platform that your fuel company says is safe for the load.
If you live in a region that’s recently been hit by a storm, you may find yourself flooded in another way– by offers from people who want to check, test, fix, or replace your heating system. Don’t rush into this; take a few moments to talk with at least three HVAC professionals who have the right credentials. You hope to be living with your new or repaired system for a long time, so it’s worth proceeding with caution.