A Massachusetts mother is facing a $17,000 to $20,000 bill to replace a flood-damaged boiler while caring for two young children in a home without heat. A month after the flooding, her family was still waiting for an insurance resolution.
Here's what to know
A Sept. 27 nor'easter flooded several homes in Brockton, damaging boilers and leaving some households without functioning heat or hot water, Boston 25 News reported.
For Brockton homeowner Diana, the expected insurance payment would leave part of the boiler replacement bill uncovered. She has two children to keep warm: an 8-month-old infant and a 3-year-old daughter.
Nearby, concerns about the foundation and suspected mold compounded the heating equipment damage at Park Road homeowner Melissa Rodriguez's home. Rodriguez, who is Diana's neighbor, said her basement took on roughly 4 feet of floodwater when a creek behind her property rose.
More background
Changes in the shape of her basement foundation were another problem Rodriguez described to Boston 25 News, showing the outlet where the foundation had cracked.
"The biggest concern down here is right here. My foundation is bowing 2 inches, and we also developed another crack," she said.
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Diana also raised concerns about her children's health, including fevers, coughing, and a runny nose. The report didn't establish what caused those symptoms, but they added to her worries as the family remained without heat.
Floodwater can make a home unsafe, disrupt essential heating, and leave residents facing repairs they can't afford.
What's being done?
Both homeowners were pursuing their flood insurance claims. Diana's coverage is through a flood insurance provider, while Rodriguez said a company was handling her claim.
"We just don't even have a fraction of that amount to even start," Diana said. "The amount they would pay would not even cover the parts."
According to Boston 25 News, Rodriguez had spent hundreds at Lowe's looking for products to clean the suspected mold. Her household's workaround for bathing without hot water was to wash with a cup, mixing cold water with water they had boiled in the bath.
For Diana, restoring heat is her most pressing concern, even as other flood damage goes unresolved. "Everything else can wait. I just need heat for the babies," she said.
Where can I learn more?
Replacing a flood-damaged boiler adds a hefty repair bill to keeping a home warm.
• A Massachusetts homeowner's 50-year-old boiler failed, prompting them to consider installing a heat pump.
• Massachusetts heating-aid demand jumped early, while HVAC firms urged residents not to delay repairs.
• Massachusetts households faced a $2,627 heating-oil winter, as Gov. Maura Healey sought to ease bills.
• The price of heating oil in Massachusetts reached a five-year high, adding to New England's winter cost concerns.
• Massachusetts gas prices reached $4.34 as experts warned winter heating bills could climb next.
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