Dumb Question

Tom M

Flooded basement. Can anyone tell me how long after I pump 12 inches of water out of the basement I can re lite the boiler and water heater? The first thing I did was turn the gas off. Is there any thing I should be aware of?

PIPES

Honestly, if they went under water you should not try to relight them. Call someone who know how to dry them out and test them. I have saved a few but is still a lot of work and it is important that all the safety controls are functioning. If the water heater is new , kiss it off, the new flame defender will never dry out.

Tom M

Are you serious? The water heater is about 5years old. The steam boiler is older maybe 20years. They would just dry-out?

PIPES

NO THEY DON'T JUST DRY OUT !!

The new water heaters have a honeycomb that they get combustion air through , it could be a looooong time like several months before it dries out if it dries out. Does your water heater have a igniter like a gas grill? If so you are bumming. Even the manufacturer reps will tell you to change it.

Where the units running at the time of submerging? You don't understand the complexity of the situation. If the boiler had power , what shorted, is it gas or oil . Do you know how to dry out a gas train, or a oil burner . Do you know what to change before powering up. Do you know how to test the daisy chain of safety controls. If it was oil say good bye to the fire chamber, do you know how to change one.


I am not trying to be mean , just realistic. Please hire it out for you and your family's safety.

Tom M

Yes it seems more complex than I intisipated. And no i dont know how to check or change everything a plumber would. I can change a water heater. The water was 8 inches high so I thought the steam boiler may have been safe, the water heater would definetly be an issue. They were both gas. Utility company is overloaded and cant come out. The same so far with local plumbers.