Experiencing a fire is devastating, and recovery can be a long process. While repairing damaged structures and eliminating visible soot are among your top priorities, smoke damage cleanup shouldn’t be neglected. Smoke can have a serious impact on your health long after the flames are put out.
Lingering smoke doesn’t just smell bad. It also contains carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and other toxic chemicals that can cause serious illness and long-lasting health effects if not treated properly.
Understandably, most people are eager to clean up the damage as quickly as possible and return to normal life. However, we encourage you to take some time and understand the importance of smoke damage cleanup. Certain common mistakes can slow down the recovery process and prolong the impact of smoke damage.
Here’s what to do instead:
1. Don’t Delay Starting the Cleanup Process
Smoke and soot are acidic. If left in place, they can cause even more damage to your property and belongings. The longer smoke odors and stains are left on surfaces, the harder they are to remove and the less likely it is you’ll be able to salvage treasured belongings.
Start the cleanup process by contacting a professional restoration service as soon as possible. While you wait for them to arrive, they can also give you advice on what to do in the meantime.
2. Don’t Procrastinate on Contacting Your Insurance Company
If you’ve experienced a fire, contact your insurance company as soon as possible. Putting off the phone call may result in delays and complications. It could even affect the amount of the reimbursement you get for your claim.
Contact your insurance company before the cleanup process begins, and don’t throw anything away. Your provider may require an inspection or specific documentation of the damage.
3. Don’t Forget to Document All Damage
Your insurance company will need thorough proof of all damage before the cleanup process can begin. Inadequate photo or video documentation may impact how much compensation you receive.
Take 360-degree photo documentation of all damaged areas, as well as a detailed inventory of all belongings affected by fire or smoke. This process can feel overwhelming, so work with a professional restoration team, like Biodynamic, that can help you make a list of damaged items and record the visual documentation you need.
4. Don’t Try to Fix the Whole Problem Yourself
Attempting restoration or smoke damage cleanup without the necessary knowledge or tools can make the damage worse. Improper or incomplete restoration can result in permanent stains, dangerous structural damage to your home, and lingering odors.
Fire and smoke damage is best left to the professionals. They’ll bring years of training and industry knowledge with them, helping you get rid of smoke, ash, soot, and odors. Most importantly, they’ll have the tools, technology, and experience to be able to restore your home to its original condition and solve any structural damage.
5. Don’t Neglect Ventilation
When a fire occurs, the building’s structure will naturally trap smoke and odors. These tiny, toxic particles can continue to linger for years, causing health problems and further damage to your home. Industrial-grade fans, air purifiers, and filters remove airborne particles, allowing you to breathe more easily in your home.
6. Don’t Forget About Invisible Smoke Damage
Smoke damage isn’t always visible. Odors and toxic particles can penetrate walls, ceilings, crawl spaces, attics, ductwork, and HVAC systems. Even if your home looks clean, hidden damage can result in persistent odors and unhealthy air quality.
A restoration professional should conduct a thorough inspection of your property. Not only should they clean all visible damage, but they should also be able to identify less obvious sources of damage. They can then advise you on the steps you should take to fully clean your home.
7. Don’t Neglect Smoke Odor Removal
Smoke leaves pervasive, unpleasant odors that can linger in your home and personal belongings long after the fire is out. Odor treatment has come a long way, with advanced methods now focusing on eliminating the source of the problem rather than simply masking the smell.
Dry ice blasting, for example, effectively removes soot while also deodorizing affected surfaces. Professional deodorization technology like BioSweep targets odors at the molecular level, permanently eliminating contaminants embedded in your home’s structure and indoor materials. It works quickly: Most residential homes can be treated in 24 hours or less.
Even better, these methods are both chemical-free and non-toxic, so you’ll feel confident knowing that your home is safer and better-smelling.
9. Don’t Dispose of Salvageable Items Too Quickly
After a fire, certain items may appear irreparably damaged by smoke, heat, or soot. You may be tempted to throw everything away and start fresh. But wait. There’s a surprising amount you can save.
Sentimental items like jewelry, furniture, and artwork can often be restored through advanced cleaning methods like dry ice blasting and laser ablation. In addition, items that have sustained smoke damage may be salvageable through professional deodorizing and cleaning treatments.
Remember, you’ll also want to document all damaged items for insurance claims purposes.
10. Don’t Neglect the Emotional Recovery Process
Experiencing a fire is extremely stressful, and the aftermath can be emotionally draining. Don’t underestimate the impact that a fire has on your mental well-being. Take breaks during the cleanup process, ask the professionals for help with insurance claims, and reach out to a mental health care provider if needed. The Red Cross offers resources for emotional recovery after a disaster.
11. Always Do Your Research When Hiring Restoration Professionals
Experiencing a fire is devastating. Sadly, there are some fire restoration companies out there that lack expertise and are looking to make a quick buck off someone who has just experienced a traumatic event. Always do your research and choose an experienced team of certified professionals who can do the job right the first time around.
At Biodynamic, we believe you deserve the best when it comes to fire and smoke damage cleanup. We’re proud of our years of experience, proven track record, and commitment to using cutting-edge technology and non-toxic cleaning methods.
Contact us today and see how our services can help you get back to normal life as quickly as possible.
