Inspection reports

Every item assessed. Every finding documented.

Each inspection report identifies the item, the type of damage or event it was exposed to, what condition it is in, which checks were completed, supporting photographs, and whether the item is salvageable or non-salvageable.

Damage & exposure types

What we inspect for.

Damage assessment is guided by the exposure event. Each type produces distinct indicators that determine whether an item can be cleaned and returned, repaired, or must be replaced.

Water damage

Water exposure is assessed by visible mineral deposits, water lines, rust, corrosion, swollen materials, electrical short evidence and internal moisture. Items submerged or in prolonged contact with contaminated water carry elevated risk and are frequently non-salvageable. Appliances and electronics exposed to clean-water leaks may be salvageable after thorough drying, cleaning and functional verification.

  • Visible water line or staining
  • Internal moisture and condensation
  • Corrosion on terminals, boards and connectors
  • Swollen cabinets, panels or insulation
  • Electrical short-circuit evidence
  • Contaminated vs. clean-water exposure

Smoke & fire damage

Smoke exposure ranges from light surface soot to heavy particulate ingress. Heat exposure is assessed separately from smoke. Soot is conductive, corrosive and hygroscopic — it can cause delayed electrical failure even when an item appears functional. Items with direct flame contact, melted components or charred wiring are non-salvageable. Light-smoke items may be salvageable after professional cleaning and functional testing.

  • Soot coverage and depth (light, moderate, heavy)
  • Heat exposure: warping, melting, discolouration
  • Direct flame or ember contact
  • Particulate ingress into vents and internals
  • Odour retention in porous materials
  • Corrosion from acidic soot residue

Power surge & electrical event

Surge damage is confirmed by visual inspection of input protection (fuses, MOVs, PTCs), power supply sections, board-level burn marks and component damage. Functional testing under controlled conditions then verifies whether the item powers on, operates correctly and meets performance expectations. Items with blown input protection only may be salvageable. Items with widespread board-level damage are non-salvageable.

  • Input fuse and protection-component condition
  • Power-supply board damage
  • Main board burn marks, blown ICs or traces
  • Motor or compressor winding integrity
  • Control board diagnostic indicators
  • Functional power-on and operation test

Lightning strike

Lightning-induced damage can enter through power, signal, data or antenna lines. Indicators include vaporized traces, exploded IC packages, carbon tracking, fused wiring and multiple-component failure across separate subsystems. Lightning-damaged items are almost always non-salvageable due to the extent and unpredictability of secondary damage. Where damage appears isolated, a detailed board-level assessment is required.

  • Entry-point identification (power, data, antenna)
  • Vaporized or exploded components
  • Carbon tracking and arc evidence
  • Multi-system vs. isolated damage pattern
  • Transformer and coil integrity
  • Secondary-pathway damage assessment

Impact & physical damage

Physical impact is assessed by documenting enclosure damage, internal displacement, cracked boards, broken connectors, bent chassis, shattered glass or display panels and loose or detached components. Items with cosmetic-only enclosure damage may be salvageable. Items with cracked circuit boards, broken internal mounts or displaced precision assemblies are typically non-salvageable.

  • Enclosure cracks, dents and deformation
  • Internal component displacement
  • Cracked or fractured circuit boards
  • Broken connectors, ports and mounts
  • Display or glass damage
  • Functional test after impact assessment

Contamination & environmental exposure

Sewage, chemical, biological, mould, pest and heavy-dust exposure each present distinct contamination risks. Assessment identifies the contaminant type, depth of ingress and affected materials. Porous items (insulation, seals, filters, fabric, wood composites) exposed to biological or chemical contaminants are typically non-salvageable. Non-porous items with surface contamination may be salvageable after approved cleaning and verification.

  • Contaminant identification and category
  • Porous vs. non-porous material contact
  • Mould or biological growth evidence
  • Chemical residue and corrosion
  • Pest or insect ingress
  • Health-risk assessment for handling
Outcome determination

Salvageable or non-salvageable.

Every inspection report concludes with a determination based on observed evidence, completed checks and industry-accepted criteria.

Salvageable

Clean, test, return.

An item is classified salvageable when observable condition, completed checks and functional results support return to service. The report documents the cleaning or repair steps performed, the tests passed, any remaining limitations and the basis for the salvageable determination.

Non‑salvageable

Evidence-based replacement recommendation.

An item is classified non‑salvageable when the type and extent of damage, contamination or component failure makes repair unsafe, uneconomical or technically infeasible. The report cites the specific indicators — corrosion depth, board-level damage, contamination type, structural integrity loss — that support the determination.

Report contents

What each report includes.

Every item-level entry follows a consistent structure so adjusters, restoration firms and claims professionals can locate the information they need.

Per‑item report structure

A representative item entry showing the fields documented for every inspected unit.

Item / categoryRefrigerator — side-by-side, residential
Make / model / serialSamsung RS27T5561SR — S/N 0A2B4C6D8E
Damage typeWater — sewage backup, ~30 cm submersion
Observed conditionWater line at 28 cm. Corrosion on compressor terminals and main control board. Insulation saturated. Interior liner stained.
Checks completedVisual inspection, internal disassembly, board-level inspection, compressor terminal resistance, insulation resistance (failed)
Photographs8 indexed photographs: exterior, interior, water line, board front/back, compressor terminals, insulation, nameplate
LimitationsRefrigerant circuit not pressure-tested. Sealed-system evaluation beyond scope.
DeterminationNon‑salvageable. Contaminated-water submersion with board-level corrosion and failed insulation resistance.
Recommended next stepReplace. Dispose per local regulations for contaminated appliances.
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