Smoke & Soot Damage - What You Need To Know

12/30/2021 (Permalink)

Smoke/Soot Damaged Tile

Smoke & Soot After a Fire

After fire damages your home or business, smoke & soot will be present throughout the structure and affects everything from ceiling tiles to HVAC/Ventilation systems, etc., posing a threat to your health and to the contents within the structure. Learn more about the Fire Damage Restoration process.

Smoke & Soot from Fire, What Should You Know About It

Smoke/Soot damage is tiny carbon particles created by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels (wood, oil, coal, etc.). Smoke/Soot contains lots of acids, as well as chemicals, metals, soils, and dust. These particles leave a charred residue and a pungent foul smell on everything it comes in contact with.

During a fire, smoke and/or soot spreads to throughout the entire structure, attacking surfaces and you contents within the structure. This acidic film will cause secondary damage your home your contents and indoor air quality if it is not remediated by a professional immediately.

Soot can inhabit your home even if there wasn’t a fire such as the case with excessive candle burning. Excessive candle usage can lead to soot buildup especially on your ceilings, so make sure to use them carefully as they are a leading cvause of fires. Fireplaces can release soot as well if they’re not properly ventilated. Furnaces are also a source of soot contamination when a defective operating system is in operation.

The dangers of soot exposure:

Data shows that soot exposure leads to around 20,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. Soot-related diseases are the culprit of many of them. Moreover, soot exposure causes 300,000 asthma attacks and two million lost workdays annually due to respiratory problems.

Soot can enter your body through inhalation, ingestion or via the skin and eyes. These toxic particles can cause many breathing problems, including asthma, bronchitis, coronary heart disease, and even cancer. Infants, the elderly, and those who already have breathing problems are the most affected by these contaminates.

To avoid the health risks of soot exposure after a home fire, make sure that all soot-affected areas are properly cleaned and sanitized by a SERVPRO of St. Louis Central professional.

How to clean up soot

Your home or business likely holds many chemicals, such as plastics, foams, carpets, wood products, and synthetic fabrics. Soot derived from these materials leads to health hazards that make fire restoration a dangerous and difficult process to remedy. That's why it's always best to call professioinals like SERVPRO of St. Louis Central! We have the specialized training, PPE and resources to properly remediate Smoke and Soot from your property. Personal protective equipment (PPE) refers to protective clothing, helmets, gloves, face shields, goggles, facemasks and/or respirators or other equipment designed to protect the wearer from injury and/or hazardous materials.

A dust mask and a household cleaner are not enough to clean up soot! Removing soot thoroughly requires professional tools, knowledge, and expertise. SERVPRO can properly clean soot and odors from your entire home or business to ensure its safe.

For professional smoke/soot remediation or fire damage repair, contact SERVPRO at (314) 260-7177.