Smoke Damage Restoration
For frequently asked questions regarding smoke damage restoration, visit the Smoke Damage FAQs page.
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What is Smoke Damage?
Smoke/Soot damage is the product of incomplete combustion made visible by the presence of small particles of carbon. The more substances which burn, the more complex the odor becomes.
What is a puff-back?
Puff-back is a malfunction of a heating system. The malfunction can be caused by a number of reasons, causing the sudden and accidental release of the combination of pre-existing dust particles (which were in the ductwork) and droplets of improperly burned fuel oil.
What influences Smoke Damage?
Heat-Warmed or heated air rises and migrated to cold areas. Smoke will collect on anything it passes thru or over while traveling to a cooler area. Heat causes pores to expand.
Pressure-The energy created by the fire produces heat and pressure which enables the smoke to penetrate into minute cracks and crevices.
Impingement-When a substance hits a surface with sufficient velocity it will splatter and upon that surface.
Magnetism-Attraction of smoke to metal surfaces. (Plumbing popes, nail heads)
Ionization-Opposite charges attract forming smoke webs on structural surfaces. Plastic bags originating at the dry-cleaners retain static electrical charges which attract smoke.
Driven Smoke, also known as hot smoke, is pressurized and has energy or force behind it. The smoke residue found on vertical surfaces results from driven smoke.
Free Floating Smoke also known as cold smoke originated as pressurized smoke but has lost the energy and velocity behind it. Because free floating smoke is heavier than air it will normally settle out on horizontal surfaces. Horizontal surfaces are the single biggest source of smoke odor.
Low Oxygen Fires-Are smoldering type long duration fires which produce a difficult to remove wet smoke residue.
High Oxygen Fires-Burn more efficiently and produce an easier to remove dry residue.
Smoke residues are generally acidic in nature and often cause corrosion damage to metal surfaces.
Smoke Odors
Protein Odors-Result from burned meat, flesh or poultry. The residue is brown/yellow in color. The residue has a greasy texture.
Natural Substance Odors-Result from burned wood, paper, cotton, wool, jute, cork, feathers etc. The residue is gray/black in color and of a dry, powdered consistency.
Synthetic Substance Odors-Result from burned plastics, synthetic textiles etc. The residue is black in color and smudges easily. Smoke webs are often visible in corner of rooms.