Ask The Experts; But, can you help with that smell?

3/2/2021 (Permalink)

There are times when one of the more significant challenges after a house fire is ensuring that there are no lingering odors from smoke and soot residue. Unless these particles get addressed using tried-and-true expert techniques, there is the potential to spread throughout the home and to become a constant reminder of the fire event. This is where our IICRC-certified technicians at SERVPRO are here to help!

What Can Be Done to Fight Smoke Odors?

When our skilled technicians get called to help with fire damage we pay close attention to the entire job. This means assessing the full scope of your loss, including any areas where soot particles and smoke residue settled. Even the smallest bit of residue left behind can cause odors to sprout up weeks or months down the road. This is why we have a series of carefully planned steps we take to execute a full restoration on your property.

How Do You Work Through the Damage?

Once you call us for fire restoration services, a fully equipped crew arrives at your property in as little as 4 hours or less. Our crew chief begins the assessment so that a detailed plan of action can get put into place. Addressing a fire loss with heavy smoke damage includes:

•   Testing and Cleaning

Once your interior is deemed safe to enter, and the plan is formulated, we work to remove items that are too charred to salvage. This helps us to limit the amount of soot spread from one location to another while also lessening odors throughout the interior. Our technicians test the smoke residue, which allows us to select cleaning agents carefully. This ensures more efficient cleaning as well as cuts back on the potential for damage using incorrect cleaning measures.

•   Residue Cleaning Options

We see two main types of smoke damage after a fire loss. Dry smoke requires careful cleaning because wet cleaning agents might drive the residue further into the surfaces. We take our time, using care to lift the dry smoke using sponges and soft cloths. With wet smoke, it often binds to surfaces. This calls for solvent-based cleaners to lift it for removal safely. The initial testing done helps ensure no marring happens on any surfaces.

•   Content Cleaning

There will be items within your home covered in soot and smoke residue. We handle all of these items on a case-by-case basis, using a variety of methods to suit each item. Non-porous items can be cleaned using our specialized immersion method. This is when items get immersed in a cleaning solution that helps carefully remove the residue, restoring it to like-new condition. Fabric items and upholstery get tested to ensure no damage comes to the materials, with our technicians often using soft bristle brushes to remove particles. 

So give us a call today! We are faster to any disaster and ready to get you back to "Like it never even happened."