Three Signs of Smoke Damage & How it Could be impacting your health
It's no secret that fire emergencies can result in long-lasting, and potentially detrimental, effects on your home or business. While damage from the fire itself is often easily diagnosed, a lesser known threat is caused by sustained smoke exposure. From characteristics as minor as a persistent smell to more severe structural deterioration, recognizing smoke damage is the first step in keeping your family or employees safe and healthy.
While smoke is guaranteed to coincide with a fire emergency, the source of the fire is critical in identifying the type of smoke and the potential extent of smoke damage. At QwikResponse, we're here to guide clients through every step of the emergency restoration process. Here is our quick guide to identifying the type of smoke and the extent of the damage to your home or business.
Common Types Of Smoke Damage
When it comes to fires in the home or workplace, the most common causes are electrical, smoking, cooking, and accidental. These fire incidents result in four types of smoke damage:
1) Wet Smoke
Characterized as fumes stemming from low-heat or smoldering flames, wet smoke is typically the result of burnt rubber or plastic. It materializes as thick black plumes and emits a distinctly unpleasant odor. If left too long, wet smoke can leave behind a greasy, hard-to-clean residue and cause metal items and wiring to corrode.
2) Fuel Smoke
Created by burning petroleum or oil, fuel smoke is commonly found in garages or warehouse fires. Once settled, this foul-smelling, thick, sticky residue attaches to surfaces and fabrics, making cleanup notably labor-intensive and potentially causing irreparable damage to materials and surfaces.
3) Protein Smoke
Protein smoke results from burning organic matter and most commonly occurs in low-temperature kitchen fires. Because protein smoke may be challenging to detect visibly, keep watch for paint or surface discoloration and a pungent smell that can quickly fill your house or workplace if left untreated.
4) Dry Smoke
One of the most common types of smoke that individuals come in contact with is dry smoke. Produced by high-temperature fires fueled by paper or wood, dry smoke spreads quickly and leaves a powdery residue. Unlike the sticky residue of the other smoke variation, the residue of dry smoke is comparatively easier to clean. Nonetheless, due to its ultra-fine composition, dry smoke can easily fit into narrow spaces, thus damaging wires and potentially the structural integrity of your home or office.
Tell-Tale Signs Of Smoke Damage
Once the fire is out, smoke, soot, and water will continue to spread until you take the proper steps to address the present damage. QwikResponse is equipped to help get your home or business back to pre-loss condition as quickly as possible – it’s our number one priority.
Check for these three simple signs to determine if smoke damage is present:
Yellowing and discoloration of paint, countertops, or exposed surfaces and furniture
Visible soot on surfaces or furniture
A smoke odor on furniture or in living spaces that persists hours or days after a fire has been extinguished.
How Unresolved Smoke Damage Can Impact Your Health
Not only can smoke damage have detrimental effects on your home or business, but it can also put your family at risk for serious health issues. The virtually invisible particulates found in smoke and soot contain toxic materials, such as carbon monoxide, ammonia, hydrogen chloride, sulfur dioxide, and formaldehyde. When exposed to smoke and soot, these toxins can enter your body through the skin, eyes, inhalation, and ingestion and cause serious health issues, including shortness of breath, bronchitis, asthma, stroke, cancer, and premature death.
If prolonged exposure to smoke or soot is suspected, be sure to seek medical help and take all precautions to address signs and symptoms as soon as possible.
How QwikResponse Can Help
Fires can be emotionally, structurally, and financially devastating. Unfortunately, the safety risks from fire do not disappear once the flames are extinguished. QwikResonse understands that lives, cherished belongings, and memories are irreplaceable. That's why all of our services start with a face-to-face inspection where we determine the extent of the project and discuss what cleanup, remediation, and restoration protocols are necessary.
Within an hour, our technicians will respond to your call and ensure all appropriate measures are taken to file a successful claim with your insurance company. Following a detailed inventory and inspection of your property, we’ll provide cleaning, smoke and odor removal, building reconstruction, and remove any debris or rubble caused by the damage.
