The harm a fire causes to a property stays even long after it is put out. Most of us don’t know about soot and smoke damage and their effects to our home and health.
Smoke and soot contain acidic substances that can injure your home, items, and family for a long time. Smoke corrodes metal, damages marble and glass, and discolors porous materials like clothing, drywall, flooring, and fabric. Furthermore, the scents produced by smoke damage are unpleasant and harmful to human health.
Learn more about smoke and soot damage from the experts of ServiceMaster by Wright.
What is Smoke Damage?
- Smoke damage happens when smoke generated by a fire surrounds surfaces and objects with soot and odor.
- Smoke is composed of different chemicals, such as carbon, sulfur and asbestos, and tiny particles which can corrode and damage the items that it coats.
- In addition, it can seep through cracks and other areas such as pipes, wiring or ductwork and can be difficult to remove.
- Regardless of the size of the fire, the impact of smoke pollution can spread easily to the other parts of the house. Smoke odor can attach itself to your wardrobe, upholstery, and other belongings.
Once smoke particles settle on the surface, the result is commonly called soot. Fire damage entails smoke damage and it contains ash and soot. Soot is a mass of carbon particles from the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons and it looks like a black, powdery substance.
5 Types of Smoke
Smoke damage comes in a variety of forms. Each type has a distinct level of impact on your home and demands different restoration methods.
Smoke damage can be caused by:
- Dry Smoke Residue – This occurs during fast-burning fires that burn at a high temperature, resulting in a dry and powdery residue that does not smear much.
- Wet Smoke Residue – This results from slow, smoldering fires with low heat, ending in a typically sticky residue with strong odors which can smear and be difficult to clean.
- Protein Residue – This type of residue is invisible and has a very strong odor. Protein residue can discolor paints, varnishes, and other finishes.
- Fuel and Oil Residue – This rarely comes from fires unless petroleum products have been stored on site, resulting in a sticky residue that is difficult to clean. Most commonly, fuel and oil residue comes from furnace puff backs that cause a fuel oil soot.
- Fire Extinguisher Residue – This residue is also sometimes a necessity. Cleanup depends on the type of fire extinguisher used.
Some people believe that if an area was not directly affected by a fire, smoke and soot damage will not be apparent. Quite the contrary, during a fire, smoke will drift to the cooler and higher parts of a structure.
Even if a fire breaks out in a building’s lower level living room on the first floor, smoke damage restoration may be required on the upper levels. Smoke and soot damage to your house or company can be devastating.
Health Risks of Soot and Smoke Exposure
A few of the adverse reactions of soot to our health during exposure are the following:
- Skin and eye irritation and/or inflammation
- Shortness of breath
- Bronchitis, asthma
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Cancer
- In some cases, premature death
Since airborne soot is invisible, you may not know that you are already affected. Once it enters your body, that will be the only time you will be able to experience the inimical effects.
Further, exposure to soot was first discovered to be associated with skin cancer of the scrotum in 1775 among many British chimney sweeps. Since then, many discoveries revealed that chimney sweeps have a higher risk of scrotal and other skin cancers.
Unfortunately, when the effects of soot are not promptly treated, the tiny particles can penetrate deep down into the lungs and will eventually result in breathing problems and more severe respiratory illnesses.
Filing a Smoke Damage Insurance Claim
Filing for an insurance claim is not a complicated process. Here are the steps you should take.
- 1. Immediately get in touch with your insurance company or agent after a fire.
- 2. Review your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. If the policy was lost in the fire, your insurance company or agent can provide another copy. Look at the declarations page for information regarding you policy’s coverage, deductibles, limitations or exclusions and if there are any filing deadlines.
- 3. Document the damage in detail and do not disturb the affected area. Taking photos and videos is recommended. Also document all contact with the insurance company. Make copies of everything.
- 4. Call a professional smoke damage removal team like ServiceMaster by Wright to come and assess the damage and provide a remediation plan.
- 5. Gather all the necessary information needed to file the claim. Note that the information is not limited to the ones given below.
- Write the date of the loss and the type and location of the damage.
- Write the contact information of the property owner. Put your own contact information if you're not the property owner.
- Include a copy of the police report.
- Include a copy of remediation estimates.
- Gather receipts for all repairs, restoration, and other related costs. Also include receipts for any hotels or meals if the damage forced you to find other lodging.
- Make a complete list of all damaged items or building materials.
- Verify with your insurance agent the procedures and timeline for filing all parts of the claim.
Schedule a Soot and Smoke Removal Appointment Today
If your property has been affected by a fire, reach ServiceMaster by Wright‘s 24-hour helpline at (239) 431-9947. Customers can also message us online.
- We have highly trained personnel that can do the necessary repairs that your home or property needs after smoke or soot damage.
- Our IICRC-certified firm has fire damage specialists who will deal with the problem in an efficient, effective, and time-based manner.
- We service Bonita Springs, Bradenton, Cape Coral, Captiva, Englewood, Estero, Fort Myers, Iona, LaBelle, Lehigh Acres, Longboat Key, Marco Island, Naples, North Port, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, San Carlos Park, Sanibel Island, Sarasota, Siesta Key, and Venice, Florida.
