What You Need To Know About Smoke Damage
If you have ever sat around a campfire, you are aware of just how quickly your clothes and other possessions can start to smell like smoke. It is, therefore, understandable why the lingering scent of smoke and ash is the last thing you want to deal with after a house fire. The odor of smoke is not just unpleasant, it is also dangerous. Smoke damage can be just as devastating as fire damage, and content smoke damage repair may seem impossible, but not all smoke from a fire is the same. In fact, there are multiple types of content smoke damage that you may be dealing with.
Before you throw everything you own out after a fire damages your Georgia home, here is what you need to know about the types of smoke damage that can affect your belongings and the options available to repair them.
- Wet Smoke: Wet smoke is a term for the vapors produced by low-heat, smoldering fires that are typically started by burnt rubber or plastic. The thick, black plumes can corrode and rust metal fixtures throughout your home if they are not removed as soon as possible. Wet smoke is also very oily, which makes the content smoke damage cleanup challenging, especially with do-it-yourself techniques and attempts. If your belongings have suffered smoke damage from wet smoke, be sure to call in professional help to see if they are still salvageable and then, if they are, to get them cleaned up and repaired.
- Dry Smoke: Dry smoke is often caused by burning wood or paper, leaving behind a powdered residue that is less sticky than other smoke damage with a strong smell. Because of its powder-like nature, dry smoke and ash may easily squeeze into even the smallest spaces, become embedded into fibers of fabrics and textile goods, and cause damage to structural elements. Without specialized equipment, cleaning up this type of damage or attempting to repair dry smoke damage can actually result in further harm to the item. Instead, you should trust your contents needing dry smoke damage repair to professionals who have the proper equipment, cleaning solutions, and training to adequately remove dry smoke.
- Protein Smoke: Protein smoke, produced when organic matter is burned, is typically discovered following kitchen fires (the most common type of home fire across the country). Although it doesn’t leave behind greasy smears or black stains, protein smoke damage still leaves behind a strong, unpleasant smell and can fade the color of paint and fabrics. Again, DIY attempts at repairing protein smoke damage may prove insufficient at thoroughly removing the odor, and can cause further fading of colors on surfaces. If you have contents that need smoke damage repair from protein smoke, you need to turn them over to professionals.
- Fuel Smoke: Burning oil, petroleum, or other fuels produces fuel smoke. It is most frequently seen in garages where its residue, once settled, is thick and sticky. This makes cleaning contents with smoke damage incredibly challenging. Smoke damage repair from fuel smoke requires professional assistance.
While smoke damage may differ based on the type of fire your Georgia home suffered, one thing is the same across the board – content smoke damage repair should be done by trained professionals. Depend on the experts at All About Contents to give your belongings the best odds of being salvaged.
