Water in duct work. Replace?

[Tim The Tool Man]

A friend of mine had her washing machine drain hose blow out and cause water damage to the living room ceiling below and other damages. There is a floor vent near the washer that took in a lot of the water. I am sure it traveled down the duct work to the furnace. I am going to have a HVAC guy from my church check out the heat exchanger for damage/cracking. In the mean time another HVAC company got involved (I think they were automatically referred by her HOA. Anyhow they told her that they were going to have to replace all the affected duct work and furnace for big $$$. I realize that the problem with water in your duct system is that it can cause the metal duct work to rust out and it can also become a breeding ground for mold, mildew or bacteria. Nobody wants legionnaires in their ducts! But for a one time wetting? Isn't that over board? If the heat exchanger is damaged, I would recommend a replacement to her as well. The furnace is 19 years old.

Since this is going to be an insurance repair I am noticing a lot of sleazy repair companies offering very expensive repairs to her. I had already started a basement remodel for her and will do any and all repairs she needs but I don't want her to pay for a repair she doesn't need.

My wife and I used to live in the same townhouse development and the HOA is very nosy and intrusive about home repairs, in or outside the home.

 

[Jackfre]

If it is in fact an insurance claim I would do as suggested and replace all of the affected parts including the furnace. Why not! Make sure the duct system is pressure tested upon repair and that it meets leakage standards or the contractor doesn't get paid.

 

[James-W]

Speaking as someone who isn't HVAC trained, I would say the water will find the lowest spot in the system, wherever that may be. Go to that lowest spot, which I am assuming is the furnace, and use a wet-dry vac to pick up all the water. Then turn the thermostat up real high, open a window or two if you need to, and run the furnace for an hour or two. This should dry out any water that is in the ductwork. I cannot see having to replace the furnace and all the ductwork, that would seem to me to a big rip-off. I could maybe understand the water ruined an igniter, and possibly a control circuit board on the furnace, although I think ruining a circuit board would be stretching it because I doubt a circuit board would be in a place where water could run down a duct and hit it. Anyway, that is my opinion as a person who doesn't do HVAC work.

Even if it is an insurance covered repair, most people have a delectable that could be substantial, mine is $500, and some people may a deductible that is even higher.

 

[6t7gto]

OP why not ask those questions here:

http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/forum.php

Prices are not allowed on that site.
David

 

[kbs2244]

I would go with the turn up the thermostat and open the windows idea.
Maybe turn off the humidifer?

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

I already dried out the system and ran it for several hours. All seems well. I haven't had a chance to check the heat exchanger yet. Will be doing that this weekend with my HVAC friend from my church. I spoke with him and he thought replacing the galvanized duct work was a bunch of hog wash but I thought I would see what you guys would suggest as well...

 

[philjafo]

It's impossible to know the extent of the damage without actually seeing it, however at 19 years the furnace is very old and if the insurance company will pay for replacement, go for it. Unless the ductwork is ductboard or insulated flex, it can be effectively cleaned and sanitized. If its metal, not rusted and correctly sized for the furnace, there's no reason to replace it. If there is any reason at all to to replace stuff and the insurance will cover most or all of it, why not?

 

[pop pop]

At minimum add a CO alarm/monitor.

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

It's impossible to know the extent of the damage without actually seeing it, however at 19 years the furnace is very old and if the insurance company will pay for replacement, go for it. Unless the ductwork is ductboard or insulated flex, it can be effectively cleaned and sanitized. If its metal, not rusted and correctly sized for the furnace, there's no reason to replace it. If there is any reason at all to to replace stuff and the insurance will cover most or all of it, why not?

My thoughts for the most part but the insurance company won't pay for a new furnace and personally I don't like having others pay for something like unneeded ductwork replacement, even if it is an insurance company.

The duct in question is typical galvanized steel and in good shape. The HOA makes you clean you ducts and dryer vents annually. Their reasoning is that these are adjoined townhouses and if one catches fire, they all might...