HVAC Restoration - Cleaning Ducts and Vents After a Disaster or Flood

When floods destroy homes and businesses, people focus on the visible damage and often neglect the destruction that has occurred behind the scenes.

When flood waters ravage a property, it pays to remember that air quality may degrade because dirty water has contaminated the HVAC system. Restoring the system and cleaning the ducts and vents will ensure the air remains safe to breathe once regular life resumes.

What to do When Your HVAC Has Been Flooded

If your property has been flooded, you will need to take safety precautions before you power up the HVAC system. Shut off the power at the breaker box if your property is still live. Doing this will prevent further damage. Most HVAC systems can be repaired after a flood. However, in most cases, the safest course is to replace the unit.

The CDC offers advice on how to clean ducts and vents and restore your HVAC system after a flood but also recommends the work is carried out by trained professionals due to serious health hazards.

The entire system must be cleaned and disinfected. Special filters must be used when vacuuming out dirt and debris, and every surface disinfected to kill off lingering microorganisms. Fully cleaning, inspecting, and repairing an HVAC system will require the unit to be dismantled. Cleaning the parts should follow a strict protocol to ensure they are not re-contaminated. It's for this reason that trained professionals are highly recommended.

Once the system has been rebuilt, it will need to be inspected by a qualified technician. When they are satisfied, you should run the system for two or three days at normal settings and check for any persisting odors. Odors are a good sign that something has been missed during cleaning and restoration.

When the property has been given the all-clear that it is habitable, the CDC still recommends regular checks of the HVAC system to ensure it is working properly and that it isn't harboring any microorganisms or mold because of lingering moisture.

Why Cleaning Ducts and Vents is Important

Ducts and vents rarely require cleaning of dirt and debris during normal times. However, when flooding occurs, contaminated waters can rise quickly to heights that flood the HVAC system, rendering it useless, especially for systems installed at ground level.

There are a lot of nooks and crannies in the HVAC system that gets exposed to flood waters. Letting it dry out naturally may not always be enough to keep the air safe and breathable.

Water can pool in the ductwork and lead to mold and bacterial growth that will impact the air quality. Chambers, coils, and fans will need cleaning or replacement to ensure the system is running safely and efficiently.

Preventing Mold Outbreaks

It can take as little as 48 hours for mold to infiltrate your HVAC system after a flood. A flood will leave plenty of dirt, debris, and moisture behind in the ducts, which is all mold needs to survive and flourish in warm, humid conditions.

Cleaning your ducts and vents as soon as possible after a flood will prevent mold from taking hold and circulating into your home and workspace.

A licensed mold remediation company will use HEPA vacuums, HEPA air scrubbers, and hydroxyl ozone generators to ensure the HVAC ducts and vents cannot harbor and spread mold spores and bacteria.

Air Purification

Cleaning ducts and vents and repairing the HVAC system is the first step to keeping the air in your home fresh after a flood, but there's more to be done. Disaster restoration companies can treat your entire home to ensure mold cannot take hold in any locations contaminated by floodwaters.

HEPA air scrubbers, dehumidifiers, and industrial fans are employed throughout a property to quickly dry out the area and prevent mold, bacteria, and odors from developing. Air purification also helps stop mold spores from traveling through the ductwork into other locations.

How Much Will HVAC Restoration Cost?

Due to the number of variables involved in recovering after a natural disaster like a flood, an inspection of the damage is essential to determining how much the flood recovery and remediation process will cost.

Fortunately, insurance will cover many of your expenses, so check with your provider. There may be grants or loans available to assist with getting back to regular life as quickly as possible if the area is declared a disaster zone by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Your local disaster recovery company can help with insurance claims and let you know about any available government assistance.

Floods are responsible for millions of dollars in damages every year. It's easy to focus on the visible damage, but you mustn't forget about repairing your HVAC system and drying and cleaning the ducts and vents to protect the air quality and your health. Call a duct cleaning service near you to help you quickly restore your property after a flood.

HVAC Restoration - Cleaning Ducts and Vents After a Disaster or Flood with Best Option Restoration

If you’re experiencing water/flood damage in your HVAC system in Denver, Arvada, Thornton, Broomfield, Boulder, or the surrounding areas, Best Option Restoration can help you. We are aware that water/flood damage in your HVAC system can leave you feeling overwhelmed, and our goal is to instill peace of mind throughout the project and restore your property in the most efficient way possible. We have many years of experience in restoration reconstruction and all our general contractors are licensed and insured. If your property has been damaged due to water, fire, or mold we will give you the personalized service and expert marksmanship needed to get the job done right. To learn more about our services, call us at (720) 620-3272 or contact us online to receive an estimate on your project.