SMOKE DAMAGE: SHOULD I BE CONCERNED?

9/30/2019 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO, fire restoration and clean-up are our specialties. Smoke can affect a building’s structure in unexpected ways. Depending on temperature, the environment, and air flow, smoke can distribute in many different areas and create more damage than initially thought. Fortunately, you can count on SERVPRO of Northeast Long Beach/Lakewood to handle fire and smoke damage quickly and professionally.

Furniture, decorations, and enclosed spaces interact with the smoke in unusual ways. In warmer air, molecules move from hot areas to colder areas of the room. These particles rest behind cool drapes or under shades, and they travel into drawers, closets, and cavities. Since smoke particles are often ionized (possessing an electrical charge), smoke damage may also occur on surrounding nail heads in the ceiling and synthetic materials such as vinyl, due to their greater ionization characteristics.

Additionally, air currents may carry smoke away from the fire, damaging rooms not directly affected by the incident. Airstreams may carry it around doors, and residue begins to build on the far side of door openings - with the pattern diminishing further away from the fire. Understanding the physics helps takes mystery out of stressful situation.

Smoke resulting from fire can behave in unintended ways. It permeates a house as it seeks new places to settle. The resulting effects can be long lasting and have an impact on your health. If you find yourself in such a situation, SERVPRO of Northeast Long Beach/Lakewood will have you breathing better.