water damage help

[mellowyellow]

we have major flooding on My property and our above<br />ground pool heater is completely submerged right<br />now. anything I can do to minimize the damage this<br />will cause to it's internal components?

 

[BillP]

Re: water damage help

Most electronics can be dried out and work fine.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: water damage help

I have had a few cases where I was involved in flooded venicles and this is my take.<br /><br />The silt in the water is "VERY" fine, and it finds its way into "EVERYTHING". So, with that said, it will be in the bearings, switches, everywhere. While it may work for a time after drying out, I would bet it will fail eventually. Fooded cars will have things like power windows heater motors, alternators, relays, etc fail after drying out eventually. NEVER, EVER buy a previously flooded vehicle. One of the cars I helped with was a brand new Corvette, we absolutly took it completly apart, Engine, trans, rear end, cleaned out everything we could and replaced what we couldnt. You wouldnt have beleived where we found mud. <br /><br />If you tear it down, clean or replace the bearings, brushes, etc, you may get away with using it again. How much is your time worth.

 

[boatneck]

Re: water damage help

My experience with Isabel last Fall was when the boat lift motors and remote control electronics were submerged by the storm surge. The guy who installed the lift said to flush the salt water, dirt and seaweed with clean fresh water and then dry it out with WD40 or CR-56. I've had no problems with the boat lift since then although the GFCI electrical outlets on the dock eventually had to be replaced since the sensors did not function although the outlets did.

 

[eurolarva]

Re: water damage help

I dont know about above ground heaters but inground heaters run around 1000 bucks. Can you remove it from the pool and re plumb a bypass. that way you can take it in the house and tear it apart. It is almost time to close the pool anyways and the less amount of time it spends in the water the better the chance of saving it. WD40 is your best bet now. If you you get it in spray all the inside metal parts with it to help reduce rust. Then clean and dry as much as you can with a hair dryer.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: water damage help

I hope your wife likes the smell of WD-40 Might work, Might not. Worth a try.

 

[dhammann]

Re: water damage help

I am assuming that this is a 240 volt heater. The lower the voltage (as in automobiles) the lesser the resistance it takes to break the circuit. In your case you should be fine Don’t turn on this appliance until it is completely dried out (preferably with contact cleaner) since higher voltage will “push” through resistance it may go where it is not supposed to go!! This usually causes a carbon arc track….in other words, a permanent short circuit!!!

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: water damage help

thanks all! <br />it is 110V above ground unit, about a year old<br />and cost about $500. she's still partly submerged<br />right now, but once water recedes I'll disconnect<br />propane and pull it.<br />wish me luck!

 

[LubeDude]

Re: water damage help

The only thing I would be concerned about after drying out and cleaned would be bearings or bushings, if you can get to them and clean them, relube them youre home free.