Smoke and Odor Removal

Smoke and odor removal is one of the more important tasks of any fire restoration project. When a fire occurs it burns may different materials, all of which produce a different type of smoke and soot. There is a difference between fire and combustion. The smoke and soot are the incompletely consumed parts of the materials combusted, the residue. The type of smoke produced depends on the type of objects that burn:

• Plastics
• Fabrics
• Food Items
• Antiques
• Books
• Appliances/Electronics
• Construction Materials
• Synthetic Materials
• Rubber Products
• Oil/Petroleum Products
• Paint/Paint Thinners

So why is it important to know what has burned?

Different Cleaning Methods Are Required For Different Materials

The type of smoke produced will affect the type of damage your home suffers. As for example, when plastics and synthetic materials burn, the smoke they generate leaves both a horrible odor and a disgusting oily black residue. When cotton, paper or wood products burn, they leave a more natural smoky odor we are all familiar with, as well as a more powdery residue.

Synthetic Materials – plastics, fabrics, carpets, etc. – thick black smoke, a smeary residue, hard to clean.

Protein Rich Substances – meats, beans fish, etc. – smears that are dark or yellowish brown and sticky in nature.

Natural Substances – wood, paper, leather, etc. – dry powdery residue that is grayish-black in color.

To properly deal with such damage, you must be able to identify the type of smoke affecting the home. You also must know how to properly deal with its damage. A wide arsenal of tools and equipment exist for dealing with the damage — special chemicals, ozone generators, etc. Most of these are not available for consumer purchase at this time. Besides that, you must also have the knowledge of how to use these items effectively. Dealing with smoke damage and smoke odor removal requires the assistance of the trained professionals from Water Mold Fire Restoration, 800-905-0277.