Appliance Repair in 08007 · Haddonfield, Haddon Heights & Barrington

Basements across South Jersey can take on water in heavy rain, during spring thaws or after a sump pump fails during a thunderstorm power outage. When that happens, appliances standing on the floor are the first to get wet: the washer, the dryer, a chest freezer and sometimes the water heater or furnace.

After any water reaches the appliances, the most important step is not to turn them back on until they have been checked. Water that reaches motors, control boards, wiring or a gas dryer's burner and valve can create shock and fire hazards. Make sure the power to the basement is safely off before walking in standing water, and if a gas appliance was under water, leave it off and have it checked; if you smell gas, leave the house and call your gas utility or 911 from outside.

Once the area is dry, a technician can evaluate each appliance. Some survive with cleaning and drying, while others have damaged pumps, motors or boards that make replacement the more sensible choice; we will tell you honestly which is which. To protect appliances in the future, keep them on a raised platform where practical, check the sump pump each spring and fall, and consider a battery backup. A water alarm on the floor near the washer gives early warning.

Before the visit, remove standing water and wet storage from around the appliances, and make sure the path down the stairs is clear and lit. Leave appliances unplugged until the technician arrives. Driveway parking is typical in Barrington. Have photos of the water level, if you took them, since they help judge which parts were reached.