The Anatomy of Smoke & Fire

9/4/2020 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot are incredibly invasive. They can and will invade all kinds of nooks and crannies within your home, potentially resulting in hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage and help you develop a comprehensive plan of action.  

Smoke and soot facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

Closely Related but Very Different

There are two different types of smoke– wet and dry. Different types of smoke mean different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration can begin, our team will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage has occurred. The information collected during these pretests determine what cleaning procedures we will follow. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

• Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

• Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor. 

Getting Back to Normal

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

SERVPRO of Haverhill/Newburyport specializes in fire and water damage restoration, which means we have specific training, personnel, and equipment to get your home back to normal quickly. As a locally owned and operated business, SERVPRO of Haverhill/Newburyport is close by and ready to help you out of your emergency.