GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – City inspectors continue to go door-to-door following extensive flooding in Green Bay this past week.
The aftermath is not only a costly endeavor for some residents, but also a potentially dangerous situation if not handled correctly.
Paul Van Calster, Green Bay’s chief building official, says some families had to have repairs done before they could even move back in
“If there was water in the basement and it covered the furnace or water heater and it was up to the electrical panel, we condemned it because it’s unsafe and it needs to be repaired before they can move back in,” he explains.
According to him, it’s unsafe to ignore some items.
“Electrical panels, if you don’t replace them, they may work right now but they’ll eventually corrode and they may malfunction. They may not trip off when they need to trip off which could cause a fire,” he says.
It also can be unsafe to attempt to replace or repair individual parts, instead of an entire piece of equipment.
“The problem is, the manufacturer warranties and manufacturer specs don’t allow you to do that,” he explains. “You need to replace the whole piece of equipment and put in a new furnace or water heater.”
While for your furnace, that strategy can result in burning extra money.
“They’ll say you can replace for instance burners, valves, wiring, and insulation but by the time you do all of the replacements, the costs of a new furnace, it doesn’t make economic sense,” says Van Calster.
With the overwhelming need for replacement parts and general repair some area businesses have been busy answering the call.
“General furnace replacements, standard costs, anywhere from, you know $3,000 to $4,000, you can get a furnace installed,” says Mike Taicher, a sales representative with Robinson Heating and Cooling.
According to him, they’ve been busy talking with concerned residents following last weeks flooding.
“If your basement was completely flooded, chances are you’ll be replacing the equipment entirely,” says Taicher.
Around fifty Green Bay homes have been condemned, according to Van Calster, but that number continues to change.
The city is encouraging residents to give them a call once repairs or new equipment is in place.
An inspector will have the power or gas in your home turned back on to test the new equipment and make sure everything is working after they receive the call.
