The Behavior of Smoke and Soot Residue Near You

2/22/2022 (Permalink)

Water Damage, Fire Damage, Soot, or Smoke Damage? Call SERVPRO of Dane County West - #608-497-3331.

Due to the unique behavior of smoke, fire damage restoration can be an intricate process. When smoke settles on a surface, it is soot. There are two different types of smoke—wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Not all soot is the same nor can it be cleaned the same way.

SERVPRO of Dane County West professionals in the Madison, WI area are thoroughly trained and IICRC Certified in fire cleanup and restoration and know the different types of smoke and their behavior patterns. Knowing this information is vital to proper fire damage restoration and smoke odor elimination. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO professionals will survey the loss to determine the extent of impact from fire, smoke, heat, and moisture on the building materials and their contents. The soot will then be tested to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. Pretesting determines the proper cleaning method and allows SERVPRO of Dane County West professionals to focus on saving your precious items.

Their knowledge of building systems helps them investigate how far smoke damage may have spread. The following points are additional facts you may not know about smoke.

• Hot smoke migrates to colder 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 significantly affect the restoration process.

 TYPES OF SMOKE

• Wet Smoke. (Plastic and Rubber) Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, and 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.
• Fuel Oil Soot. (Furnace puff backs) While “puff backs” can create havoc for homeowners, SERVPRO of Dane County West professionals can, in most cases, restore the contents and structure quickly.
• Other Types. (Tear gas, fingerprint powder, and fire extinguisher residue) Special loss situations require special care.

SERVPRO of Dane County West professionals are trained to handle even the toughest of losses. If your home or business suffers a fire, soot, or smoke damage, call (608) 497-3331 to make it “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO of Dane County West is proud to serve the West Dane County, Madison, WI area. 

• 24-Hour Emergency Service.
• IICRC Certified Firm.
• A+ rating from the BBB (Better Business Bureau). 
• Angie's List recommended with an A-rated reputation 
• 5-Star Google and Facebook rankings.
• We work with your insurance to help manage the insurance process and paperwork for a stress-free claims process.
• General Contractor License #: 1317784

Video - The Fire Damage Process - SERVPRO of Dane County West

Fire Damage Emergency Tips - What you can do until help arrives

Water Damage, Fire Damage, Soot, or Smoke Damage? Call SERVPRO of Dane County West - (608) 497-3331.