How Can I Get the Fire Damage Odors Out of My Belongings in Crossville?

9/6/2020 (Permalink)

Getting the smells of a fire out of your home is a tricky job. Contact SERVPRO 24/7 for assistance and professional remediation services.

SERVPRO Technicians Perform Fire and Smoke Odor Restoration Services for Crossville Homeowners Restoration

Crossville residents may think that the worst is over after a home fire is successfully suppressed. However, soot and smoke odors can have lingering effects on surfaces in your home. Not only are fire damage odors unpleasant, but they can also indicate areas in the home that can be vulnerable to stains and corrosion if soot makes contact with moisture.

SERVPRO offers emergency response services for Crosville homeowners in need of fire and smoke odor restoration. This firm’s Odor Control Technicians (OCTs) are trained to meet restoration industry benchmarks determined by such organizations as the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).

What Causes Fire Damage Odors?

Some fires, regardless of the size, can leave lingering odors and stains that last for weeks, or even months on end. Here is what Crossville homeowners need to know about the science behind fire damage odors:

• Particles of incomplete combustion (PICs). These microscopic odor-causing particles are as small as ten microns in diameter, or one percent of the thickness of a dime.
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The compounds, along with PICs, can infiltrate a variety of surfaces through porous materials or nooks and crannies in nonporous items. These residues can even hide behind walls and underneath your flooring. Without professional treatment, these odors can linger for months after a fire.
• Components found in soot and smoke. When a fire burns, the odors can aid in determining what materials are burning. Wood fixtures and framing, for example, can give off a smell akin to a campfire. The gases that create this odor include:

• Carbon monoxide (CO)
• Benzene and formaldehyde
• Acetic and formic acid
• Various heavy metals and phenols
• Nitrogen oxides (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2)

Burnt plastics and fabrics can also leave behind unpleasant odors and soils that can indicate what chemicals are released into the air along with carbon particles. SERVPRO’s commercial-grade sanitation solutions are designed to handle tough odors and soils that consumer cleaning products cannot restore successfully.

How Do Smoke Odors Affect Porous Materials?

SERVPRO takes on odor control solutions for a variety of porous items affected by smoke odors and soot particles. Fire damage residues penetrate and settle on all types of surfaces, even ones that Crossville homeowners might not immediately expect. Commonly affected porous items include:

• Curtains, drapes, and upholstery. Cleaning these items with a home vacuum cleaner can inadvertently push soot and soils deeper into wood and fabrics. SERVPRO professionals handle these items with care during the restoration process. If your belongings require specialized cleaning, this team can refer you to a licensed professional who can perform the necessary services.
• Hardwood flooring. Hardwood can be challenging due to the likelihood of soot penetrating planks. Depending on the extent of the damage, hardwood can often be preserved with proactive refinishing if cleaning does not provide the necessary results. In cases where extensive damage has occurred, replacement may be required.
• Wood furniture. Cleaning the soot residues from wood furniture requires a careful balance of being sufficient enough to remove damage while affecting wood stains and finishes as little as possible. SERVPRO technicians can use proprietary mitigation solutions such as Wood Creme Paste or abrasion cleaning to address heavy soot stains and surface charring.
• Clothes and bedding. Even clothes and linens kept in closets or drawers can suffer from fire damage residues and odors. While a regular wash can remove light odors, a commercial-grade solution may be needed to prevent accidental corrosion of appliances through exposure to soot and moisture.

How Can SERVPRO OCTs Mitigate Fire and Smoke Odors?

Odor control professionals at SERVPRO can use a variety of deodorizing solutions to address fire damage in your home, depending on the extent of damage present on your Crossville property.

• Light smoke odors are typically defined as being confined to a small area with no structural damage and minimal visible residues. Technicians can remove any discernible sources of odors before increasing ventilation and cleaning with an EPA-registered deodorizing detergent solution.
• Moderate smoke odors are characterized as being on both horizontal and vertical surfaces with some structural damage that affects a larger area of your home. The steps taken for light cleaning are pursued first before moving on to using ultra-low volume (ULV) fogging for odor control. Your HVAC system may need to be fully cleaned and sealed.
• Heavy fire damage odors require comprehensive solutions. Structural materials are first sprayed with an odor counteractant, and exposed timber is sealed during the deodorization process. Hardwood furniture with severe smoke odors can be treated with dry solvent deodorizers. Deodorization with activated oxygen may be necessary.

SERVPRO of Cumberland, Morgan & White Counties serves the community with mitigation and restoration services that are Faster to Any Size Disaster. Call (931) 250-5333 to start cleanup within hours of your initial contact.