Smoke Odor Removal after Fire Damage

Fire Damage and Smoke Odors

Fire damage may be quite considerable for building infrastructure and contents inside the property after the flames die down. Moreover, smoke odors lingering after fires are difficult to remove and may cause long lasting damage as well. Inexperienced property owners facing fire and smoke damage should not attempt to cleanup and remove soot, debris and smoke odors themselves, without expert help from a fire and water damage restoration company. Lay people may, unintentionally, cause further damage by spreading char and soot around the property. In fact, improper and unstructured handling of smoke odor and fire damage cleanup may hinder the progress of competent repair efforts. Therefore, professionals should be handling both content restoration and fire damage structural repairs.

Fire Damage Cleanup and Smoke Damage Removal

The sooner fire and water damage restoration personnel are called in for cleanup and repair work, the sooner they can begin to restore the property. Smoke odors following a fire need to be taken care of without delays, as odors have a tendency to penetrate carpets, walls, furniture, clothing, etc. Water and fire damaged items within the home are packed and taken to a content restoration facility, where they are gently cleaned and restored. These items include rugs, draperies, sheets, clothing, books, ornamental accessories, artwork, electronics, documents, furniture, toys, and many others.

Prevent Fire Damage and Smoke Odors

After a fire event, minimize damages by calling professional restoration companies to help with fire damage cleanup and repair work. Let them do what they do best, while you and your family get situated in a hotel until the property is safe to occupy again. Preferably, only restoration personnel should be on the premises as inexperienced people are likely to transfer soot particles around the property. Since additional damage can occur from lack of knowledge and experience, following proper restoration procedures and protocols is very important. Although you may be tempted to help, do not attempt the following:

• Do not enter the property unless firefighters declared it is safe to do so.
• Do not touch soot-covered household furniture and belongings as there is risk of transferring soot particles to other items, thus damaging them as well. Soot is oily and stains textiles easily.
• Do not clean any household items, such as clothing, textiles, drapes, rugs, carpets, furniture, etc.

Fire and Smoke Odor Removal Professionals

Cleaning Water and Fire Damage

Fire and water damage restoration professionals open windows to air out the property, when safe and appropriate to do so. They use industrial strength fans and dehumidifiers to dry carpets, wood floors, sheetrock and other building infrastructure to prevent mold development. Water, fire and smoke odor damaged items are removed to a special content restoration facility to be dried, cleaned and de-odorized. It is standard procedure to cover all remaining furniture and household belongings in plastic until all work is done, to protect them from further damage.

Cleaning Smoke Damage

Smoke damage is hard to remove because ducts, vents and even attic insulation trap smoke odors. These odors are then repeatedly released over and over again throughout the house. Fire and smoke damage restoration contractors either clean the ducts or seal the smoke in so it is not released again. The method used depends on the particular situation at hand. Attic insulation is impossible to clean and needs to be replaced with new insulation to prevent ongoing smoke damage issues. Fire and smoke odor removal professionals make sure to change the heater filter daily during wintertime to contain soot particles. Once soot has been removed from the property, fire damage restoration companies can begin smoke odor removal procedures.

Fire and Smoke Odor Removal – Effective Methods

Smoke Damage Removal Using Ozone

Some homeowners try using room deodorizers that mask the smoke damage. However, that is a band-aid that will do little more that cover-up noxious odors temporarily. This is not a permanent, working solution, as smoke odor lingers on textiles, clothes, walls, carpeting, and other items until it is permanently deodorized and removed. Since smoke odor removal is a complex task, some restoration contractors use ozone to neutralize and eliminate the smell. They usually use the ozone oxidation method prior to cleaning draperies and other textiles so smoke odor does not get entrenched in the fabric. This process can take place in the fire-damaged property, while an ozone generator turns oxygen in the air into odor removing ozone. After competing its de-odorizing task, ozone quickly degraded into oxygen again.

Smoke Damage Removal Using Thermal Fogging

When fires take place, high heat is generated and porous structures, such as walls, absorb smoke odors. As the temperature drops, after the fire has been extinguished, the porous objects and structures trap the odors within. The trapped smoke odors are repeatedly released throughout the property as temperatures fluctuate. Some restoration companies use a smoke odor removal method called thermal fogging. It is quite effective in eliminating smoke odors and many restoration companies use it successfully. This process eliminates smoke damage by opening pores and releasing smells, enabling restoration professionals to clean and remove odors permanently.

Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration Companies

Not only massive fires cause damage and are expensive to restore. Small fires can be damaging and costly as well. Professionals have the necessary equipment, tools and supplies to tackle fire and smoke odors. They are able to contain damage and minimize costs, so calling these professionals is the most appropriate action to take in addressing post-fire issues.

Smoke Odor Removal