Removing Smoke Odors after a Fire

Fire is a huge risk to any building whether it is residential, commercial or industrial; an uncontrolled fire can result in a lot of damage, and possibly the destruction of the whole building. If you are lucky enough to be able to keep the fire under control and get it extinguished before significant structural damage is done, then you are likely going to be able to save the building, but not before having to deal with the smoke odors that have been left behind. Smoke remediation is an important step that cannot be skipped when it comes to the restoration of a building of a fire, because if it isn't done, further damage will be done to both the structure of the building, the possessions within the building, and even the occupants.

Smoke Particles and Air Quality

Fire itself is often the biggest danger to a structure of a building when it comes to a fire, however for humans the more immediate threat is often the smoke. Smoke caused by fires is very dangerous to people, and most deaths caused during fires are from the inhalation of smoke causing damage to the lungs and preventing enough oxygen from getting into the body. Just because the risk of fire is over once the fire department is done with your home, doesn’t mean that smoke doesn’t continue to be a huge risk for anybody in the building. Most buildings after a fire will have distinctive smoke smells, and if you are smelling the odors, that means they are getting into your lungs and can be a health hazard, in addition to just ruining the atmosphere of a home. Air quality is important in a home that you want to live in, or a business you are operating from, so getting rid of smoke odors is very important.

Smoke Odor Health Hazards and Dealing with It

Smoke odor isn’t just an annoyance after you have cleaned up from a fire, it is a health hazard. Smoke odor means that somewhere in your home, smoke has caused damage and left behind soot or microscopic particles of ash that are being distributed into the air, and being inhaled into your lungs. Those with lung conditions such as asthma, or tuberculosis are going to be particularly affected by smoke odor and the microscopic particles, meaning the residents may not even be able to safely live in the home. Smoke remediation is very important if your home or business still smells like smoke after a fire.

A proper smoke remediation will include not just ventilating the building to try remove residual smoke in the air, but also try to find the cause of the remaining odor, whether it is cleaning up soot in attic or basement, or restoring the HVAC system of the building via a deep cleaning. HEPA filters are very important during the smoke remediation process to ensure the air being treated is as free of as many microparticles as possible. Some contractors may even use ozone generators to absorb the smoke odor particles; do not attempt to use ozone generators on your own, as they can damage your lungs if improperly used.

If your building has been through the trauma of a fire, contact a company that specializes in smoke remediation right away to deal with the situation and ensure your building is safe to live or work in again.