Understanding Smoke and Soot Damages

7/24/2020 (Permalink)

Are smoke or soot damages affecting your home or business? Call SERVPRO of Northwest Escambia County at 850-466-3089.

When a fire damage occurs, smoke and soot issues are almost always left behind.  Unpleasant odors, staining and streaking, and structural issues are just a few problems that are created by smoke and soot residues.  To remediate the smoke and soot damage to your home or business, you will need a professionally trained team with the equipment and expertise to handle the situation properly.  Understanding the science of soot and smoke damage is the first step in this process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke: wet and dry.  The type of smoke can greatly affect the remediation process; therefore, it is imperative to understand each before restoration work begins.

• Wet Smoke – Created by materials such as plastic and rubber burning. These materials burn at a lower heat, creating a smoldering, lingering smoke with pungent odor.
• Dry Smoke – Created by materials such as wood and paper products. These materials burn at a much higher heat and burn very quickly, and the smoke created tends to rise to the cooler areas of a structure.

The type of smoke created determines the kind of soot residue left behind.  Wet smoke fires leave a concentrated, yet more difficult to remediate, residue with an extreme odor, while dry smoke fires allow smoke and soot to spread through a structure, however easier to remove the staining and odor.

Returning your home or business to its preloss condition after a fire damage occurs is a top priority for the SERVPRO of Northwest Escambia team.  If you have suffered a fire loss, give us a call at 850-466-3089, we will help make it “Like it never even happened.”