Thermal Foggers

Fire damage can never be fully restored until the lingering odors are removed. When smoke affects the surface of any material, the temperature of the smoke opens material pores and penetrates deep into the material, as well as driving smoke particles deep into any cracks and crevices. This will leave unwanted smoke and soot damage on your contents and your clothing. Thermal fogging works in the exact same way. Because the chemical being fogged is hot, it will also penetrate deep into materials. If delivered appropriately, thermal fogging will provide excellent odor control. In order for thermal fogging to do any good, as much of the char and fire debris as possible must be removed beforehand.

How Do Thermal Foggers Work?

A thermal fogger is a device that uses heat to vaporize a fogging solution. They create a dense cloud that penetrates materials to neutralize smoke odors after a fire. The solution passes through a high temperature coil that vaporizes the solution. The vapor, in the form of a cloud, or a fog, is sprayed through a nozzle on the end of the fogger.

The droplets produced are usually around 20 microns in size and will stay suspended in the air for a long period of time. Because these droplets are hot, they are able to enter materials in a fashion similar to the way smoke particles do.

Open a refrigerator door after a kitchen fire and you will see how hot moves to cold. The inside of a closed refrigerator with be filled with soot. This is a natural phenomenon: wet moves to dry and hot goes to cold, if they can.

As the solution comes into contact with any smoke particles, they will neutralize the odors of the smoke.

Fogging Preparation

To provide safety for the building and workers, these general guidelines should be followed:

• All residents and pets should have been evacuated.
• The local fire department has been notified that fogging will be taking place (neighbors may think another fire has started if they see “smoke” inside the building).
• Post “Do Not Enter” warnings on all doors.
• Shut off all open flames, including all pilot lights.
• Technicians need to be in full PPE.
• Disable smoke detectors.
• Cover or remove food items
• Close all exterior doors and windows
• Open cabinet and vanity drawers and doors.

Fogging Techniques

Technicians should always work in twos. The technician operating the thermal fogger should first fog closets, cabinets, and open drawers in the room to be fogged. The foggers trigger should be held for about 15 seconds at a time, then wait 15 seconds before pulling the trigger again. This will allow the fogger’s coils to heat back up ,creating smaller droplets. Begin fogging room by room, starting in the room farthest from the exit of the building, begin fogging in the corner farthest from the room’s door. Back out as you fog. The second technician should help guide the one doing the fogging as he/she moves backward. Continue this procedure until every room has been fogged that is necessary. Work your way out of the building, closing the exit door as you leave.

The building should remain closed up for 30 to 60 minutes to allow the fog to penetrate materials. Before re-entering, the building should be ventilated for at least 30 minutes. Anyone who has a respiratory problem or disorder should probably wait longer

Types of Thermal Foggers

The thermal foggers most often used for fire restoration are powered by electric. Some resemble a 12-cup coffee maker in size while others look like some type of futuristic space weapon. Some foggers run on propane or gasoline, but it isn’t always safe to use a fuel-powered fogger indoors due to exhaust fumes.

Cleaning up after fire and smoke damage is one of the services provided by Water Mold Fire Restoration. Our certified fire damage experts can perform anything from smoke and soot cleanup to emergency board ups. We respond at all hours of the day and night because we realize that emergencies don’t always occur during regular working hours. Call us at 800-905-0277 and in one hour or less from your call, our emergency teams will be onsite. If you want advice or you want to talk live to one of our fire restoration experts, give us a call. Or you can always email us at help@watermoldfire.net.