While fires pose an incredible threat to your home and happiness, they’re not the only thing to be concerned about. Smoke damage, often overlooked by the immediate devastation of a fire, poses significant risks to both your property and health. 

The best thing you can do is understand smoke damage, why it's so dangerous, and how you can prevent it.

What is Smoke Damage?

Smoke damage is physical damage inflicted on a building or object by smoke. Smoke is acidic and can affect various surfaces differently. Ultimately, prolonged smoke exposure can lead to corrosion, structural damage, and health issues.

Some of the nastier side effects of smoke damage stem from a particular substance that hides in smoke: soot. Soot is a black, powdery substance that causes surface discoloration and damage. It also carries a very particular odor that doesn’t go away with typical scent treatment. 

Smoke damage can happen in a variety of ways. Some of the most common causes are: 

• Cooking mishaps
• Electrical fires
• Smoking indoors

Smoke travels fast and can find its way into places that the fire didn’t manage to reach. Just because fire damage isn’t present doesn’t mean the area is in good condition. Small cracks and crevices can contain smoke and soot damage, which, if left untreated, can have long-term effects. 

The Dangers of Smoke Damage

You may think you can live with a little smoke discoloration, but untreated smoke damage can cause many issues. Here are a few of the more common smoke damage problems that can occur:

• Surface discoloration: Soot can create black marks and streaks on your ceiling, walls, and floors. These stains can be a headache to remove. 
• Structural damage and corrosion: Soot and ash can break down the most stubborn materials. Metal surfaces, electrical components, wood, plaster, and other materials can deteriorate with prolonged exposure, creating additional property issues. 

• Health issues: Smoke often contains chemicals and particles that can be harmful to your health. Something as simple as breathing can become difficult if smoke damage is not removed quickly.

• Damaged property: Smoke can cause permanent damage to personal items like furniture, clothing, carpets, and other household materials. 

• Odor: Soot can leave behind unpleasant odors that can be difficult to remove without proper cleaning materials. Without treatment, these odors can become toxic.

Safeguard Your Home: Prevent Smoke Damage

While fires seem unavoidable, there are ways to protect your home and family from smoke damage. Here are a few simple ways to shield your home: 

• Practice safe cooking: Don’t cook the bacon on high. Always set a timer. Avoid using broken appliances. 
• Maintain your electrical equipment: Take care of your electrical appliances. Clean your toaster and replace broken plugs. 

• Install and update smoke detectors: While they don’t prevent fires, smoke detectors can give you an early warning that something is wrong. The warning gives you more time to get out of a dangerous situation and guarantees a quicker resolution, which can decrease the chance of worse smoke exposure. 

• Keep fire extinguishers handy: Fire extinguishers can diffuse a bad situation before it escalates, so it’s always a good idea to keep one close. 

Smoke Damage Remediation: DIY or Professional?

Smoke damage doesn’t disappear on its own; in fact, leaving smoke damage will only make the problem worse. The best thing to do is treat the space immediately. Depending on where the fire occurred, check every appliance, electrical outlet, and other small spaces for signs of smoke damage. 

While you can attempt to rid your home of smoke damage on your own, it’s never a bad idea to consult a professional restoration company. Ridding your home of smoke damage can be dangerous and time-consuming. If you are attempting to clean up your space on your own, here are a few tips and tricks that might help:

• Be sure the area is safe. Fires and smoke can cause severe structural damage. Don’t put yourself at risk. 

• Wear protective equipment. When handling soot and ash, you should wear gloves, a mask, and eye protection. These protective measures will keep you safe. 

• Ventilate the space. Turn off your HVAC system so contaminants don’t spread throughout your home. Open up all doors and windows. This will eliminate any leftover smoke. 

• Clean immediately. The longer the exposed space sits, the more damage the soot and ash can cause. But don’t let cleaning get in the way of your safety. 

If the DIY method isn’t for you, reach out to Fast Affordable Restoration. Our experts use the most effective methods to ensure your home is smoke-free. Don’t hesitate to contact us for more information about our smoke removal processes.