Types Of Smoke Damage

When a fire affects your home or business, the flames are not the only things that can cause damage. Unfortunately, even after the flames have been put out, smoke damage can continue to impact the conditions inside a building. Depending on the kind of fire, different kinds of smoke damage can be left behind. Each leaves behind varying degrees of damage and can affect different items. 

Smoke Damage Cleanup – Northport

There are four different kinds of smoke damage that are each caused by different circumstances like the fire’s temperature, fueling materials, and location. With each type, the cleaning and restoration process is different.

Fuel/Oil Residue

Fuel or oil residue comes from burning oil. It typically isn’t seen within a house because these items are usually stored outdoors or in a shed. The most common reason for this type of residue to be found in a home is due to a building’s furnace having a “puff back”, releasing smoke in the form of small leaks or even minor explosions. This kind of residue is sticky, dense, and very difficult to clean. Moreover, it has a very strong odor that sticks around until properly cleaned. 

Protein Residue

Protein residue is created when organic material evaporates during a low-heat fire. This usually happens when accidentally burning food in the kitchen. This smoke type is difficult to spot because it has no visible smoke. However, it will leave paint, varnish, and other finished surfaces permanently stained. It also leaves behind a strong smell that can be difficult to track down to the untrained eye.

Dry Smoke

Dry smoke stems from a fast-burning and high-temperature fire that is usually fueled by wood or paper. It is relatively easy to clean, as it has a powdery texture that doesn’t smear when being wiped up. While dry smoke damage cleanup is easy compared to other types, it has a tendency to hide in cracks or porous materials. This means that even when surfaces look clean, they can still have that smokey smell left behind. 

Wet Smoke

Wet smoke comes from burning plastic and rubber in a low-heat and smoldering fire. This kind of smoke is one of the most difficult types to clean and restore. The fires that cause this smoke have few flames but release thick, black smoke. The residue left behind is sticky, and thick that builds up on any surface. Because wet smoke residue is sticky and dense, it has no problem completely covering your home or business’s surfaces and often smears during the cleaning process. This can make the smoke damage cleanup extremely difficult, almost impossible without special equipment. 

Experiencing a house fire to any degree can be devastating. It can make you feel helpless, especially when it destroys your home and leaves behind evidence even after it has been put out. After experiencing a tragedy, homeowners want nothing more than to remove all traces of it immediately. Fortunately, there are professionals at Restoration 1 that are able to assist you in the entire smoke damage cleanup process. They will do everything they can to bring your home back to its original state.