What Is Smoke Damage?

Where there’s smoke, there’s damage.

Learn what smoke damage is and why you should entrust it to a pro.

If you’ve experienced a house fire or lost your home and belongings to a fire, it is devastating. It’s also one of the most difficult disasters to recover from.

Containing a fire before it engulfs your residence is a win, but the fire and smoke damage left behind can be just as harmful and difficult to remediate.

Smoke damage is unavoidable after a fire, but the level of damage cannot be determined on looks alone. The effects of smoke particles and soot can infiltrate porous materials, cause hardwood flooring to become permanently stained, and settle onto metal surfaces. That’s where we come in with smoke damage restoration.

At Axel Works, we’re committed to helping you recover quickly and wholly from the worst disasters. Read on to learn more about what smoke damage is, fire damage do’s and dont’s, and how we can help you rectify it.

What Is Smoke Damage and How Is It Different from Fire Damage?

Smoke damage or smoke residue is any physical or structural damage done by smoke rather than the flames themselves. It is a combination of soot and smoke that can affect your possessions, building materials, as well as your residence’s air quality.

Some of this damage is visible to the naked eye, such as black soot-covered walls and floors or a greasy residue on surfaces. However, because smoke particles creep into small cracks and crevices throughout your dwelling, most of the damage is much more difficult to detect. For example, items like furniture. painted walls, and clothing may be damaged beyond repair, though they might not look different to the naked eye.

Smoke odor is very strong and leaves behind a lingering smell as well as harmful particles embedded inside the walls and deep inside fabrics. If left untreated, it can lead to damaged ventilation systems, compromised air quality, permanent discoloration, and pipes that rust and corrode.

It is crucial to have certified professionals like Axel Works check for smoke damage after a fire to avoid major problems down the road.

Types of Smoke Damage

Smoke damage is smoke damage right? Wrong. There are actually many different types of smoke damage such as:

• Wet Smoke: Wet smoke damage is typically caused by low, smoldering fires. Don’t take this to mean that it’s not dangerous, it is. It just leaves a different level of smoke and soot and often looks like there isn’t a lot of damage when in fact, there is.
• Dry Smoke: Dry smoke comes from a higher and faster burning fire. The culprits are often paper or wood. This type of smoke is powdery and because of that can seep into cracks and go undetected without a restoration service by your side.
• Fuel Smoke: This type of smoke damage is rarely seen in homes because the culprit is from fuels like petroleum. It leaves a very sticky residue that is incredibly difficult to clean.
• Protein Smoke: As the name suggests, this type of smoke damage comes from kitchen culprits, burned food, or a kitchen fire. Because of the low visibility seen with this type of smoke damage, people often assume there’s no lingering damage. But you need a fire damage restoration company out to be sure.

Is Smoke Damage Dangerous?

The dangers of a fire last long after the flames have gone out.

The gravest dangers from smoke damage concern your health. Inhabiting a space with lingering smoke particles can cause lung problems, skin damage, and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Although everyone should be extremely cautious when it comes to entering a place that may have sustained smoke damage, people with certain underlying health issues must be particularly careful.

The elderly, people with heart or lung issues, people with diabetes, and children whose respiratory systems have not yet fully developed have a higher risk when it comes to smoke damage. No matter how mild you think your smoke damage may be, it is vital to call professionals as soon as possible to determine the presence and level of smoke damage.

Is Smoke Damage Covered By Insurance?

Fortunately, smoke damage is covered by basic home and business owners insurance policies.

You should never assume that just because the flames have not affected your residence, that the smoke has not either. Smoke damage can come from a neighbor’s home as well as wildfires and the fire does not have to originate in your residence for you to be covered.

When filing a smoke damage claim, it’s important to provide all the pertinent evidence as quickly as possible. Take photos, note the date of the fire, all rooms and items impacted by it, and work with a licensed and vetted restoration company when removing the damage.

At Axel Works, we’ve been through a strenuous vetting system, including insurance and license checks, making us an approved vendor for the leading insurance companies. They trust us to do quality work for you and for them.

Smoke Damage Restoration

Because smoke particles seep deep into your walls, clothing, and more, removing the damage is an exhaustive process.

That process depends heavily on the size and length of the fire as well as what started it. For example, fires caused by burning plastic release a more toxic odor that is harder to remove.

Airing out your home is the first step in removing smoke damage. Opening doors and windows, removing screens, and turning on fans can help circulate fresh air and hopefully direct free-floating smoke particles outside. If it is safe to enter your home or office, airing out the affected area is an important early step to hopefully mitigate any damage and help make the cleaning process more effective.

You should always wear rubber gloves when handling anything with soot residue, and all upholstery and fabrics that may have been damaged must be thoroughly cleaned.

Ultimately, smoke damage is not something that can or should be removed on your own. In order to clean smoke damage a person needs industrial tools, chemicals, and personal protective equipment not readily available to civilians.

Plus, professional cleaning is covered (and recommended) by insurance companies, so why stress yourself out? Not only can it be detrimental to your health to attempt to remove smoke damage, but common household cleaning products can actually make the damage worse, leading to problems with your insurance adjuster later on. A professional smoke damage restoration company will take many steps to get your property back to its former glory. They are:

• Inspection: A company like Axel Works will come out and inspect your property for damage. Remember, when there’s been a fire, there can be unseen smoke damage. Professionals know how and where to look.
• Board Up/Tarp: Unfortunately, the aftermath of a fire is not always contained to the inside. More often than not, there is roof damage and a tarp and board up will help protect your home from the harsh elements.
• Water Removal: Firefighting efforts often cause water damage so it’s important to thoroughly extract all water to avoid mold issues in the future.
• Smoke/Soot Removal: Using industry grade tools, we then clean up and remove all smoke and soot residue from your home. Items that cannot be saved are removed.
• Clean/Sanitize: Using the latest technology and safe cleaning methods, we clean and sanitize your home or business so that it is inhabitable again.
• Rebuild: Finally, we restore your property to its original state.

After the cleaning process is finished, make sure your AC filters are changed as well, and have your ventilation system inspected by a professional to remove any lingering particles.

It is important to remember that the majority of smoke damage is invisible. The most detrimental damage is what is inside your walls and deep in your carpets. Leave the cleaning to professionals to save yourself literal, metaphorical and insurance headaches down the road.

A Fire Can Be Devastating But We Are Here For You

While you may think you’ve been spared if you managed to contain your home fire to a particular area, checking for and properly removing smoke damage is a crucial step in ensuring your future health.

A fire is devastating no matter how big its impact, and at Axel Works, we’re here to help you through your toughest moment. With our Rapid Emergency Response, we’re available 24/7 and our licensed and certified staff will be with you as quickly as possible to get the restoration process underway.