Understanding the Effects of Smoke Damage To Your Home

A house fire is probably the worst form of property damage. We all know that it can wreak havoc and leave behind irrevocable damage.

But it’s just not the flames. The danger persists in the form of smoke and soot—long after the firefighters have left extinguishing the visible danger. Smoke inhalation has been regarded as one of the major factors of mortality in fire victims. Not only does it lead to various health concerns, smoke damage is also detrimental to your property, furniture and home systems.

Understanding the impact of smoke damage to the temperature, environment, airflow patterns and ionization of particles can help you navigate the situation better. The following are ways in which leftover smoke can affect your home:

Notice The Temperature

After the fire has been extinguished, you need to check the temperature in the following spaces in order to spot smoke damage:

Right Above Where The Fire Took Place

Given that there are no strong air currents flowing through the house, you’ll be able to detect the highest concentration of smoke right below the ceiling and above where the fire blazed. You can detect smoke damage by looking at the concentration of smoke residue left behind.

Outside Windows And Walls

Cold air tends to sit right below the warm air, making a path for the smoke to move toward the exterior walls and windows. Even if the fire was blazing at the center of the room, it’s very common to find a high concentration of smoke residue on the exterior walls.

Assess Your Surroundings

Fire can have disastrous effects on your decorations, furniture and enclosed spaces. If none of these have been burnt to ashes, the leftover smoke will destroy it. You’ll find smoke damage in some of the most bizarre places. But once you understand how the smoke molecules interact with your surroundings, it starts to make sense.

In Enclosed Spaces

Closed closets, wall cavities and dress drawers are enclosed spaces where you won’t expect smoke residue. However, the truth is that these enclosed spaces attract smoke molecules because of their cooler surfaces. The cooler air isn’t active enough to keep the smoke particles aloof, so they fall on these seemingly enclosed surfaces.

Behind The Curtains

In a normal room—that hasn’t been touched by fire—there is a vast temperature difference between the space behind the curtains and the room. Since the smoke travels to cooler areas, it is common to find smoke residue in a higher concentration than in any other space.

At Service Master Colorado, we offer smoke damage repair services to help you get your life back on track after the damage. We are also known for our water damage repair, mold removal and expert commercial and residential cleaning services post-damage. You can get in touch with us to learn more about our services in Steamboat Springs!