Serving the Upstate of South Carolina

Smoke and Odor Damage

Not everything destroyed in a fire is damaged directly by the flames. One key element of fire restoration that is often overlooked is the handling of smoke damage. Many people learn in the aftermath of a fire that there are precious items that were damaged by smoke though untouched by flames.

Unfortunately, what you might not understand is that these precious items, while damaged, are not yet destroyed. They may have the smoke stains and the overwhelming scent of the fire, but these effects, by the hands of qualified professionals, can be removed from many of the precious keepsakes you’d like to salvage.

How Bad Can Smoke Damage Be?

The flames of fire burn hot and can scorch and singe items of all kinds. From your child’s favorite teddy bear to photo albums, television screens, and more; smoke is a more widespread problem. In many fires, smoke destroys much more than the flames themselves.

Smoke damage goes deeper than just the surface, though. If you have electronic stereo equipment, appliances, televisions, etc. that have been exposed to smoke, then you should not attempt to operate them until they have been thoroughly inspected by experts. The residue smoke leaves behind often contains acid that is corrosive to metal surfaces.

The Importance of Professional Smoke Damage Cleaning Services

As bad as the damage may be, you’ll be surprised by how many of your possessions can be salvaged after smoke has done its worst – but only by the hands of trained professionals. Otherwise you run the risk of ruining the very items you’d most like to save.

These are some of the things that can sometimes be saved after receiving smoke damage:

  • Art
  • Jewelry
  • Clothing
  • Documents
  • Dishes
  • Utensils
  • Furniture
  • Computers
  • Electronics
  • Children’s Toys

The list goes on. New technologies are being developed and perfected all the time to assist homeowners and families in the aftermath of fires.

Methods Used to Remove Smoke Damage

The first step in recovering homes from smoke damage involves the removal of any items that may lock in the odors of smoke damage. Because fire consumes anything in its path, there may be toxic odors in the smoke residue that remains. This includes anything that cannot be treated for smoke odors. It may include insulation, burned wood, carpets, and other floor coverings.

The process of actually cleaning the smoke damage will vary from one item to the next. This is not a one size fits all items process and choosing the wrong smoke damage removal process could ultimately destroy the item.

Water damage is also a common problem in the aftermath of fires – even items that have smoke damage. Specialized drying processes may be needed in order to address these items in addition to the processes used to remove the smoke damage. In other words, it’s a delicate process that requires an educated and experienced professional to perform safely.

At ServiceMaster of Greenville and Spartanburg we understand how devastating fires can be – and how emotionally significant it can be to save one special item or many special items. We will do everything possible to save your precious possessions from smoke damage. Contact ServiceMaster today to see how we can help you recover after a fire.

Excellent service from our technician Jeremy. He got pet stains out that I thought were permanent. Professional and courteous. I highly recommend this company....

Gracie M.