‘Try to fix what’s broken’

Ridzuan (left) repairing the electronics component of a water-damaged electrical appliance.

THE recent severe flooding in several states, including Selangor, has caused major damage to properties and belongings of flood victims.

Those whose homes were affected said waters rose very fast, leaving little time for them to save anything.

While there may be little hope in saving the furniture, there are some simple measures that can be taken to minimise damage to electrical and electronic (E&E) items during a flood.

To help flood victims, Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) and Kuala Langat Municipal Council (MPKL) have taken steps to organise free repair services in collaboration with community organisations, educational institutions and non-governmental organisations (NGO).

According to Kaki Repair founder Johnson Lam, the first thing one should do when water rises is to turn off the earth-leakage circuit breaker (ELCB).

He said 90% of water damaged electrical appliances that were more mechanical than electronic, could be saved as long as they were not connected to electricity when they got wet.

He noted that many households were used to having their electrical items on standby mode.

“If electricity continues to flow and the appliances comes in contact with water, then it will short circuit and seriously damage the item.

“So, switching off the ELCB will cut the supply of electricity to all the appliances and prevent the possibility of one being electrocuted.

“After the ELCB has been switched off and if there is time, pull all plugs out from the sockets,” he said.

It was advisable, said Lam, to place the E&E items in waterproof containers or heavy duty garbage bags and then seal with cling wrap and waterproof tape to secure it.

“This will keep the items safe from coming in contact with water.”

He said E&E items that had come in contact with water should not be switched on.

“The key is to clean and dry it thoroughly before switching it on.

“Dismantle all the parts, clean every nook and remove any dirt or mud, and dry it thoroughly.

“You can use a blower, hairdryer, fan or leave it under the sun to dry it.

“If you do not have the tools and are not sure if water is trapped in the item, then leave it be for a couple of days and see if there are any water droplets at the bottom,” he added.

Lam said Kaki Repair volunteers were among those who participated in a community service programme offering free service to repair flood-damaged electrical and electronic items.

The programme was organised by MBSA at Dewan Azalea in Taman Sri Muda from Dec 28, 2021 to Jan 1.

Lam said the team managed to repair over 300 items, including ovens, washing machines, stand fans, rice cookers, blenders, refrigerators, electric kettles and induction cookers.

“We also received electronic items such as television and laptops.

“Out of 18 television sets, we managed to switch on 10 units but they were not functioning at their optimum.

“The screen had water marks and bubbles, the sound system was damaged but they still could be used.

“Similarly, several laptops could be turned on but some parts needed to be replaced.

“As long as the motherboard and screen, which are the most expensive components in a laptop, are working, the laptops can be fixed at the cost of a few hundred ringgit,” he said.

Kaki Repair is a do-it-yourself (DIY) repair movement that started in 2017 to encourage people to fix their own damaged goods rather than throwing them away, via physical events and online platforms.

It is an offshoot of Kaki DIY, a community organisation that started in 2013 for DIY enthusiasts, makers and entrepreneurs to share, collaborate and provide services to others.

Another volunteer, Ridzuan Jahaya, 44, from Shah Alam decided to help out after noticing how many flood victims discarded their water-damaged electrical appliances without trying to salvage them.

“Many think that once an appliance is inundated with water, it is destroyed, and people are quick to throw such items away.

“People have lost so much and they should try to see what can be saved.

“I, too, was a flood victim middle of last year.

“Some of my belongings that were in my grandparents’ house in Kampung Sungai Udang, Klang, were destroyed in the floods that time.

“Thankfully, I had family and friends that had helped me out.

“So, now is my chance to pay it forward,” he said.

Ridzuan, a pilot, said most people might not have the necessary tools to dismantle their E&E items.

“Some items have a pentalobe security screw and may need a comprehensive screwdriver set to open it.

“Much of our work was to dismantle, clean, dry and reassemble an appliance before switching it on, to see if it was working properly.

“If there are problems, we advise the owners accordingly,” he said.

Another volunteer, IT consultant Shee Tze Jin, 36, from Cyberjaya, extended a helping hand because many people did not know what to do with the water-damaged items, and were preoccupied with cleaning up their homes.

He said while water could damage E&E items, rust setting in was a bigger problem.

“So, we wash the appliances thoroughly with clean water to remove all the dirt and mud, and then dry it completely with an air blower or hairdryer.

“Any leftover water droplet can cause rust to form.

“For delicate circuit boards, we use electronic circuit cleaner sprays to clean up remaining water residue and then double-check the connection for wire breakage.

“Once the visual inspection is done, we will assemble the appliance and test it.

“About 95% of appliances can be saved,” he said, adding that their efforts would have saved thousands of ringgit.

Shee said television and laptops were more difficult to repair because the circuit board would be damaged by mud.

He said repairing electronic devices was also time-consuming.

“It will take a long time to troubleshoot, and fixing the problems will involve purchasing spare parts,” he said.

One of the many who benefitted from the MBSA programme is Premalar Pariasamy, 37.

The office worker and part-time food caterer sent nine items for repair — a television set, DVD player, blender, radio, hairdryer, clothes iron, microwave oven and two rice cookers.

“I was told that all items were working except for the hairdryer.

“The hairdryer’s circuit board was damaged because I had switched it on at home when it was still wet, and smoke came out from it.

“But I am surprised that my old radio is working exactly like it used to.

“I am also very happy that my 14-year-old blender is working fine too,” she said.

Premalar said she was very grateful to the team of volunteers for their help.

“It saved me the hassle of having to travel to different service centres to fix these electrical items.

“The team was amazing and efficient.

“They repaired all my items in a day. They also helped me load the items into the car,” she said.

The team of volunteers at the free service programme are now stationed at Dewan Orang Ramai Kampung Bukit Changgang in Banting from 10am to 5pm until Sunday, in a similar programme organised by MPKL.

Items that the public can send in include rice cookers, hairdryers, radio and water heaters.

The cost for replacement parts are to be borne by the owners.

For details, call 013-331 5157 (Hisham), 012-709 9628 (Rahmat), 010-206 9716 (Aishah), 012-255 0479 (Nurasykin).