If you are facing a flood situation, you know that the water can damage or destroy much of the contents of your home. In particular, your electronics are at an elevated risk for damage from flood waters.
Although there is a high risk that your electronics will be badly damaged, it is still possible for electronics to survive a flood. It will depend on the actions you take before the flood and after, as well as a little luck. Here’s what will determine whether or not your electronics survive a flood.
How Water Damages Electronics
If you want to help your electronics survive a flood, you first need to understand how water damages them. There are two main mechanisms of water damage to electronics: short-circuits and corrosion.
Short-circuits are, put simply, when electricity flows through a circuit in ways it isn’t intended to. Electronics work by controlling the flow of electricity. Voltage gets changed and the strength of current reduced to achieve the function of the electronic components. Often, electronic components are supposed to work with a certain voltage and strength of current, and they can be damaged if they’re exposed to different voltages and currents.
Although pure water doesn’t conduct much electricity, even tap water has enough contaminants in it to carry a strong current. Flood water and especially seawater contain plenty of contaminants to allow electricity to flow through them. When electronics get wet, this lets electricity flow in unintended ways through the circuits, damaging numerous components. Sometimes, there’s enough current to cause a machine to catch on fire, despite the presence of water. Short circuiting is mostly a risk when the electronic device is turned on, but sometimes just having a component plugged in can lead to short-circuiting and damage.
Corrosion is rust, and you probably know that water can make metals rust. When water gets into your electronics, it can start attacking the metal in the device, including all the exposed components on the circuit board. Corroded electronics can’t carry electrical current the way it used to, and this can lead to nonfunctional devices.
Unlike a short-circuit, corrosion is a slow process. It mostly occurs when electronics are exposed to water for prolonged periods.
What to Do Before a Flood
If you know there is a risk of flooding, such as when you are evacuating your home before you are likely to be inundated by storm surge, turn off all electronics. It’s even better to unplug everything you can.
Then, do what you can to raise everything off the floor. Put electronics on a table or, even better, move them up to the second floor if you can. If time is limited, prioritize devices that will be the hardest to replace or that have the most important information on them.
What to Do After a Flood
After a flood, a rapid response is essential to preserve most items in your home, including electronics. If your home was significantly flooded, working with a water damage restoration professional can help you identify items that you may be able to save.
Otherwise, get all electronics out of standing water. Drain water out of the device and consider how dirty the water was. If the flood water was full of silt, organic waste, and chemicals, electronics will need to be cleaned inside to avoid corrosion and eliminate the risk of a short circuit. Don’t open and try to clean electronics unless you know what you’re doing. Even unpowered, some electronic devices can be dangerous, and you might damage the components while trying to clean them.
If the water was clean – such as flooding from a burst pipe – you might be able to dry the electronics thoroughly before carefully turning them on. Try to dry the device quickly: if left wet too long, corrosion can corrupt the electronics.
However, as clean as the water was, the device might have substantial dirt inside it. Computers, especially, accumulate a considerable amount of dust because their cooling fans suck in room air. That dirt can sometimes be enough to cause problems even after the device is dried. Check the level of dirt inside a device before turning it on. If it’s very dirty, clean it – if you know how – or take it to a professional. This might also be necessary for electronics that weren’t immersed in water but spent several days in a flooded room. The high humidity in the air could saturate the dust, leading to potential corrosion and short circuits.
Let your local FLEET company Help Preserve Your Electronics
If you are hoping to preserve your electronics after a flood, your best chance comes by working with a professional water damage restoration company. They know how to properly dry and clean electronics to give them the greatest chance of survival after a flood.
your local FLEET company is the leading water damage restoration company in your area. We offer 24/7 emergency response services – just call and we can come out at any time of day or night to get started on your potentially water-damaged electronics immediately. Plus, we can handle every aspect of the water damage restoration process, including content restoration, structural drying, and repairs. This can save more than your electronics – it can save your home from flood damage. We have a meticulous restoration process that uses the most advanced equipment and techniques that adhere to industry best practices.
In addition, your local FLEET company can coordinate directly with your insurance company. This will eliminate the hassle of handling any flood damage claims – if your insurance covers flooding. Our thorough documentation of the damage and the repairs performed means that your claim won’t be denied or delayed because you didn’t understand your insurer’s documentation requirements.
If you are hoping to save your electronics after a flood, contact your local FLEET company as soon as possible after flooding occurs. We serve customers in your area.