Not All Fire Damages Are Structural. What About Smoke Odor Damage?

10/28/2022 (Permalink)

Ozone machines are effective at cleaning up smoke odors

How Do I Remove Smoke Odor After a Fire?

Following a fire, smoke odor can linger for months. That lingering smoke odor can be a serious hazard and will affect the resale value of your property. You need a professional cleaning company to restore your home to pre-fire condition and eliminate unpleasant smoke odor and contaminants from the fire damage.

Smoke Can Permeate the Entire Structure

One of the most annoying and lingering effects of a fire is the smell of smoke that can permeate the entire structure. As you’re aware, this odor is caused by smoke particles that are released into the air during a fire. Smoke particles are very small and can get into the smallest cracks and crevices in your home or building, including air ducts. Even if you had your air ducts professionally cleaned after your fire damage, there is still a chance that some odor-causing particles may remain in them.

Thermal Foggers Neutralize Odors At Its Source

To treat smoke odors in your home, you have several options. The most effective is thermal fogging—a process in which a fog is generated with heat, then injected into the affected area to neutralize the odor at its source. The fog will also penetrate porous materials such as wood, upholstery and even carpeting.

Air Filtration Devices (AFD) Are Commonly Used

Air Filtration Devices (AFDs) are probably the most commonly used piece of equipment to help clean up after a fire. AFD's are used in homes and offices, but they can also be used in commercial buildings such as hotels, restaurants, nursing homes, and schools. 

Air filtration devices are similar to air purifiers as they have an air filter which removes smoke particles from the air as it passes through it. However, there is one difference between these two devices - an AFD removes odors from your home while purifiers do not remove odors from your home unless they have special filters installed that are specifically designed for this purpose (which most don't).

Ozone Machines Can Also Remove Foul Odors 

Ozone is a gas that is created when oxygen is exposed to ultraviolet light. It's a powerful oxidizer, meaning it can help remove odors from your home.

But before we go any further, let's be clear: ozone isn't the same as oxygen, even though it has "oxy" in its name. Oxygen atoms have eight protons, eight neutrons and eight electrons (O8) while ozone atoms only have seven of each (O7).

Ozone machines are effective at cleaning up smoke odors because they're able to break down organic compounds in the air by combining with them and making them into other compounds like carbon dioxide or water vapor.

If you have experienced a fire, call SERVPRO of North Naples. We can help restore your property to pre-fire condition and eliminate unpleasant smoke odor and contaminants from the fire damage. We will come out and assess the damage and develop a plan with you to handle everything from cleaning to restoration. Our professionals are certified in fire and smoke damage restoration by IICRC which means they know all there is to know about handling this type of situation. We'll make it right!