Fire Damage and the Smell of Smoke

8/30/2018 (Permalink)

Fire Damage and the Smell of Smoke

One of the worst complaints after a fire, even to items not damaged by flame, is the lingering smell of smoke. There is a different odor associated with smoke damage when a home has sustained fire damage than the smell that comes from smoke from a campfire, or wood fire outdoors. The combination of wire burning, paint melting and carpet smoldering makes for a downright disgusting smell that can last forever without proper remediation.

After a home has sustained fire, especially inside of the walls, most all belongings will have a lingering odor. This is a time when it’s very important to start thinking about restoration or replacement. While a professional smoke remediation expert knows how to remove most all odors, sometimes, it’s not possible.

When a fire in your home begins, it starts to consume and eat away at everything it touches, and the remnants of the fire are all in the smoke the fire produces. Insulation causes a different bad odor than wood does, and if there are other chemicals in the house that has sustained fire damage, those also blend with the odor and penetrate everything from cloth to wood.

You will experience this odor immediately. It smells like a combination of tires burning and wood smoldering. It can make you sneeze and can make you ill. Remember that this is the most common reason to replace as opposed to restore; which is our motto and mission. You must decide if it’s tolerable or if it’s not.

If you decide to restore, you need to know that even the best expert may only be able to completely remove ½ or less of the lingering odor and you will need to take steps to treat the items several times. Think about the value of the item to you on a personal level, then decide if you want a professional to assist.

There are many household products you can use to get out the odor that a specialist cannot but again, it’s up to you to decide the personal value that the objects hold for you.

When you can let go, you should replace. If letting go hurts too bad, you should attempt to restore.