Water Damaged Electrical Items

When a flood victim suffers from a loss, no matter how severe the loss may be, it’s quite common for them to be in a disagreement with the insurance adjuster about the electronic components’ repairs and replacements. Each side is usually impracticable in the prospects about the items that are water damaged. Do they get repaired or do they get replaced?

To determine if the equipment is to be replaced or repaired and to keep disagreements at bay, there is a set of rules that must be adhered to when determining the course of action.

Above anything else, the victim’s insurance company will use the adjuster to determine how bad the flooding was to the home. Was the electrical equipment exposed to water through a tsunami/tidal wave or a leaky roof?

Looking at the NEMA Evaluating Water Damaged Electrical Equipment guide, any electrical items that has been exposed to contaminated water, whether it is chemicals, oil, debris or sewage, could severely affect how the equipment will operate once it is dried out.

After the amount of damage has been determined, the equipment that was destroyed with be looked into. What parts of the electrical equipment had been damaged? Did the cable trays, conductor products, motor, which have inimitable distinctiveness, become damaged beyond repair? These items should be looked at when determining whether to repair or replace the electronic device. Other factors to be looked at include the cost to repair or replace the item, how easy or difficult it would be to repair the device or hard or easy it will be to remove the contamination.

The next thing an insurance adjuster will look at is the kind of liquid that caused the electrical damage. Did the equipment become damaged from water alone or did it have chemicals, sewage and other nasty materials in it? Salt water can cause severe damage to electronics, most beyond repair.

If the insurance company chooses to repair or refurbish any electrical equipment, it becomes the owner/victim’s responsibility to read the owner’s manual and seek assistance in making the necessary repairs. However, if the flood victim has questions about how to do any kind of cleaning or repairs, it’s necessary for him or her to obtain the assistance from the original business manufacturer. If they proceed to clean the equipment without getting the recommended assistance, it’s highly probable that the equipment will become further damaged. Two possible reasons for this problem is using inappropriate cleaning agents or not cleaning it correctly.

When replacement of electronics is necessary, it is usually because of three reasons. First, the methods to clean the equipment were too abrasive. Second, the insulating materials were completely damaged which could lead to overheating of the equipment, possibly causing a shock or fire. Third, the electrical-conducting surface was beyond repair and can cause a shock or fire due to overheating.

by Steve Estes -

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