All You Need To Know About Smoke Damage

4/7/2022 (Permalink)

House on fire with smoke coming from the windows and the chimney with the SERVPRO logo over the top of the photo

If you have ever read up on wildfires, you may be aware that it's not the fire that causes the most damage.

Instead, it's the smoke!

Even after the flames are extinguished, the smoke is still there, often existing in a visible or invisible state, wreaking havoc.

Wondering how smoke damage can be hazardous?

Stay with us as we decrypt the lesser-known facts about smoke damage.

Types of Smoke & The Damage They Cause

 Smoke isn't just the white smog that rises when you take a puff from your cigarette.

Instead, it can exist in various forms, as described below:

• Wet Smoke

 With an overpowering and unpleasant odor, wet smoke fumes arise due to burning plastic or rubber at a low temperature. Wet smoke exists in a greasy, sticky form, and can be quite cumbersome to clean.

• Dry Smoke

 In contrast, dry smoke results from the burning of paper and wood at high temperatures. However, dry smoke exists in a powdery form that is easier to clean, but these tiny particles can hide in porous furniture.

• Protein Smoke

 As its name suggests, protein smoke arises from burning organic matter and food. This smoke type is usually invisible but can cause paint discoloration and emit a powerful unpleasant odor.

• Fuel Smoke

 Fuel smoke arises due to the burning of petroleum. However, fuel smoke is quite visible and can leave an unsightly stain on walls.

Smoke Damage On Home Structures

 Smoke consists of different acidic elements, primarily carbon and sulfur, that can be devastating for your home.

Here's how the smoke damage types mentioned earlier can affect your home's appeal and furniture.

• Corrodes Metal

 Smoke can cause permanent damage to metal accessories in your home. Anything ranging from doorknobs to metal pipes can get tarnished or corroded due to smoke.

Furthermore, damage to the home's pipes can ultimately cause leakage and water damage.

• Causes Discoloration

 Smoke can easily cause discoloration to porous materials in the home, such as wood, plastic, curtains, upholstery, and marble – basically, all those essential items to make countertops and kitchen tiles.

• Creates Stains

 Smoke can even stain the wall coverings and carpets. In fact, the leftover acidic residue may eat the entire wall coverings.

• Foul Odor

 Smoke odor can be unpleasant, and if the soot is stuck in your clothes, the smell may settle forever.

• Damages Furniture

 Porous furniture like cabinets and hardwood floors are the best place for the smoke to hide. If the smoke residue exists in a powdery form, you can expect small particles to hide under the surfaces, making the remediation process extremely tough.

Takeaway 

Smoke damage isn’t something you can ignore. After all, it can negatively impact your life in ways more than one.

In case your home has been subjected to smoke damage, contact SERVPRO – #1 in the cleanup and restoration industry as well as specialists in fire and smoke damage. 

Give us a call for your quote today at 706-866-5646

From Fort Oglethorpe to Varnell, Cohutta to Praters Mill, or anywhere in between, we take pride in serving your neighborhood! We are a locally owned and operated franchise with employees dedicated to providing a quality customer experience!