Effects of Smoke Damage
1. Discoloration of Surfaces & Objects
The effects of smoke damage are evident as discoloration and stains on walls, ceilings, and other surfaces. The discoloration may not show immediately but within a few days, the walls and flooring may start to become yellow. Long after a fire, hardware made of metal can begin to rust or corrode. Moreover, tiles, countertops, and other surfaces containing porous stone such as granite, marble, or travertine generally tend to become permanently discolored due to the acidic residue in soot. In fact, this residue can also tarnish metals permanently and damage them in the long run.
2. Interior Damage
Smoke not only affects surfaces but can also permeate underneath and wreck a home’s structure or framing as well as insulation and air ducts in the ventilation system. Soot and smoke particles often become entrapped in the HVAC system, due to which the odor of smoke can reoccur from time to time. This can give rise to respiratory problems to the inmates in the premises.
3. Odor of Smoke
Smoke comprises several components such as particles, vapors, and toxic gases like carbon monoxide. These contribute to the smell that stays after smoke damage. The acrid smell of smoke typically gets trapped in carpets, drapes, clothing, and upholstered furniture. The source of the smell can be difficult to locate, sometimes being on a sooty surface or in the pores of wood in a piece of furniture. These specific items need to be cleaned and deodorized timely or else the odor could linger for a long period, affecting the quality of air.
4. Impact on Airflow Pattern
As air currents carry smoke and soot away from the fire, the residue is deposited in other places. It is found in ductwork and door openings, which causes an imbalance in the airflow.
- Ducts: Smoke creeps its way into the ductwork, even when the forced-air system is not running. With the smoke travelling up and through passages, it causes damage and clogs these areas partially.
- Door Openings: Objects in the path of smoke act like filters, resulting in the deposit of smoke residue on the far side of door openings and ceilings.
5. Damage to Surrounding Environment
Both residential and commercial spaces have furniture, decorations, and other features that get exposed to smoke and are damaged.
- Enclosed Spaces: Some areas suffer greater damage than the place that caught fire. These are dresser drawers, closet cabinets and wall cavities. As molecules are more excited in warmer air, there is a higher energy that is sufficient to carry the smoke particles to cooler, enclosed areas.
- Drapes and Blinds: As there is a difference in temperature in the space between the room and the space behind drapes, smoke moves to the cooler areas. Consequently, often there is quite a lot of smoke residue behind the drapes. Similarly, venetian blinds trap more smoke residue than the surrounding surfaces, thereby indicating the overall smoke damage.
- Ceilings: As hot air rises, the greatest concentration of smoke residue is usually found directly above where the fire took place. Also, nail heads in the ceiling can trap smoke particles, which can appear as an outlined ring.
- Corners: If the smoke particles have an electric charge, they are attracted to specific surfaces. For example, smoke produced from burning plastic has a stronger charge compared to smoke from wood and paper. This results in smoke residue to form where walls and ceilings meet.
Smoke damage is often random and erratic. Once you as well as your near and dear ones are safe, it is wise to consult professional services to assess and remove smoke damage. The earlier you seek smoke damage restoration, the lesser number of repairs you need to undertake.
If you are running out of time or feeling overwhelmed by the direct and indirect smoke damage, call ECOS at (720) 709-2350 today! With 14 years of experience, we offer professional services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
