Tips To Handle Smoke Damage

Fire causes severe damage to your home, but do not underestimate the damage caused by smoke

. Smoke damage cleanup after a fire is best handled by professionals, but here are a few tips for you to follow if such a disaster strikes your home.

In the case of a fire, after calling the fire department and the police, the next thing you should do is to contact your insurance agency. They will guide you on restoration or replacement of damaged items. If it occurred at a rented property, inform the landlord. Once you are inside you have to be very careful about what you do, as you could further the damage caused.

To begin with smoke damage cleanup, clear the air inside the building and get the smoke out. Open doors and windows ventilate the house well. Do not use any electrical equipment, unless you are told they are safe. Restore your heating system by changing the furnace filter daily until it shows no soot.

You must then work on drying wet items as soon as possible. Put out the carpets and the draperies; let them air dry, or use fans and dehumidifiers to dry them quickly. Drying is necessary as wet carpets and floors underneath may become hosts to mold growth.

If smoke has blackened your brass and copper items, clean them using brass or copper cleaners. Removing soot from household textiles is a tough task that must be taken up quickly. Soot is oily in nature, and can easily stain upholstery, carpets, draperies and other textiles. Soot removal is necessary, prior to cleaning these fabrics/textiles. Professional cleaners use a heavy-duty vacuum to suck the soot off the fabrics. If you are attempting to do it yourself, then do not use the brush attachments, as they push the soot inside. After the soot has been vacuumed off, cover these textiles to prevent any additional damage during the repairs in the house.

Removing smoke odor from textiles is the next step in restoring smoke damage. Smoke odor lingers on even after the soot has been removed. It clings to clothing, upholstered furniture, carpets and draperies. Before sending off your textiles to the cleaners, you have to deodorize them completely. Professional fire restorers and dry cleaners use chemicals that are counteracting in nature and break up smoke molecules to eliminate odors. For different types of textiles, there are different counteractants available, so choose one with care. Fire restoration experts often administer an ozone treatment and place items in a tent with an ozone generator operating. This treatment breaks up smoke molecules and consequently makes the fabric odor free.

To rid a house from smoke odor, a process called "thermal fogging" may be used. It involves a warm chemical fog that is allowed to move in the house and it neutralizes the smoke odor inside the home. Professional fire restorers focus on smoke removal throughout the entire house, including ducts and insulation.

Everything said, the best option you can chose for dealing with the aftermath of a fire is to call the professionals for smoke damage clean up. Look for a renowned and experienced service provider in your area, and trust them to salvage your possessions after a fire disaster.

by: Mike MacRae

POST COMMENT

Computer Repair Use Zija Weightloss Product For Weight Management Wine Cellar Specialists Is Proud To Announce That It Is Now A U.s. Distributor For Climadiff Wine Ce Please Spare Us The Onlookers Reasons Why Most People Fail The Gmat Looking To Loose Fats, Hcg Is The Answer Be More Cost Efficient With Artificial Grass Turf Aruba Diving For A Memorable Experience Know Why Using A 6/6 Nylon Threaded Rod Is A Smart Option For Fastening Annoying Allergies Due To Eczema How Do You Take Care Of Distemper In Dogs? Porcelain Veneers Allow For Instant Smile Makeovers In Idaho Falls Short Shifter - Great Value For Your Money