How Smoke Continues to Damage Your Home After a Fire

12/30/2021 (Permalink)

How Smoke Damage can Affect Your Home

Every situation that involves smoke and fire damage can be different and SERVPRO of South Mecklenburg County is here to create a unique solution tailored for these specific conditions. We have helped many of our Charlotte friends and neighbors deal with the aftermath of a fire. We understand that it is devastating and heartbreaking to see your home damaged. Although certain memories can be lost when your home/business has been damaged, we can help make it "Like it never even happened."

Just because your house fire has been put out, it doesn’t mean that all the damage to your home is done. When different materials burn, the soot they create differs greatly and requires specific cleaning procedures. In fact, a large amount of fire damage is caused by smoke residue and if not taken care of properly, it can worsen over time. 

Smoke often affects certain areas/rooms in your home that didn’t even touch flames. This is especially common when it comes to wildfires. When most people hear the word “wildfire” the American west, most likely California, is usually the first thing that comes to mind. However, North Carolina gets its fair share of wildfires. In fact, there has been an average of about 4,000 fires burning more than 115,000 acres annually since 1928. Because of this, it is important to be aware of the dangers that smoke damage can cause. 

Although smoke carries high temperatures with it, this is not the main cause of fire damage. Its acidic contents, between the heat and the corrosive properties, is one of the biggest obstacles in repairing your home following a fire. One of its main effects is on the metal within your home or business. Depending on the kind of smoke and metal, this effect can range from slight tarnishing to complete corrosion. From smaller items like doorknobs to structural elements such as the pipes and beams in your home, smoke can cause some serious damage. Moreover, corroded pipes can create leaks, causing water damage on top of everything else you have to deal with.

Excessive smoke can create soot, a powder-like or greasy substance made mostly from carbon, which is another frequent byproduct of fires. It is especially detrimental to fabric items and furniture. Additionally, your walls and floors can sustain visible and invisible damage, like black walls and lingering smells.

The acidic properties of soot can further damage your home and indoor air quality if it is not removed and cleaned immediately. You should wash as much porous material as you possibly can. Cleaning porous flooring like tile, marble, and wood is critical because damage to these materials can eventually become irreversible. Within hours, metal starts to corrode. 

Here at SERVPRO, we use specialized equipment and techniques to remove smoke and soot from ceilings, walls, and other surfaces. If you have to deal with any sort of fire damage to your home, do not worry-- we will be there to help make a plan, save as many of your items as possible, and clean your structure so that it is ready for life to return to normal as quickly as possible.

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