Home Improvement Advice for Disaster Recovery

Electrical/Gas Safety Do it Yourself Tips for Disaster Recovery

FLOODING

It is almost impossible to prevent flooding unless you have taken steps to install watertight doors and do not have airbricks to allow air flow under the floor (which is not recommended). The best you can do is to board and sandbag the doors, which will filter out most, but not all of the silt. Move as much as you can above the water level, but be careful not to injure yourself in doing so or pile furniture dangerously high so that it may fall on you.

If you have been one of the thousands of people affected by actual flooding then you have several areas to consider.

electrical safety

gas safety

food contamination

destroyed furniture and carpets as well as personal effects

Turn off gas and electricity from the mains and if you leave your property, ensure that you let the Authorities know where you are going, so that you can be contacted

Secure your house, you will be amazed how many people will take advantage of deserted properties, no matter how apalling the circumstances

Inform your insurance company immediately

ELECTRICAL SAFETY

Turn off your electricity. Do not do this whilst standing in the water. Use a wooden tool of some kind. Even if you know that the power is down in the area, make sure yours is off in case it comes on suddenly when the power returns to your area.

When water is escaping and running away it will find any hole to run through - electrical sockets and lights provide excellent escape holes. Generally speaking if your electrical system is well maintained there is no reason why, when completely dry, it should not still be fine. We suggest however, that it is worth paying a single call out fee for peace of mind to put checks on everything, such as - taking front covers off plug sockets to check for water and checking your central heating boiler for damage.

Wait until the water has subsided and then call your electrician - he cannot do anything while some of the system is under water. Remember - you will need to use a generator to power cleaning equipment until this is done.

Your appliances such as fridge, freezer ovens etc. with foam insulation and sealed components will suffer little water damage, however, once again do not attempt to use them until fully dried out and checked by your electrician whilst he is doing your general check. However, any electric motors that have been under water will need to be either reconditioned or renewed. Any food that was in them when the flood hit should be discarded because of the dirty water and the risk of contamination.

Gas Safety

If you smell gas or have reason to suspect a leak, turn the gas off at the mains. Call the emergency gas services and do not attempt to use any gas appliances.

Your central heating boiler must be checked over by either a registered engineer. Parts such as the burners and thermostat may be badly damaged by the water, so may need to be renewed or even the whole boiler may need to be replaced. Indeed it may be cheaper to renew the whole thing anyway.