How to Get Rid of Fire Smoke Smell in the House

Fires are one of the most catastrophic events that can take place in your home or business. Outside of the immediate shock and danger for occupants, a fire’s aftermath brings an array of challenges and restoration needs to return to a place of normal. In particular, smoke damage and lingering fire smoke smell often stays behind weeks after the fire event has taken place.

No matter the size of the fire or extent of the damage, fire smoke smell presents a major issue for home or business owners navigating the fire damage restoration process. Learn how to get rid of fire smoke smell in the house and when to seek professional help.

What is Smoke Damage?

Smoke is made up of a complex mixture of gases and fine particles produced when wood and other organic materials burn. Smoke damage refers to the physical distress caused by firesmoke. While that definition may seem obvious enough, smoke damage is separate from the physical destruction caused by the fire itself. And if not addressed, the effects of smoke damage can further weaken already damaged structures.

Smoke damage warps and bends wood, peels paint off walls, and the residue from soot, ash, and other smoke byproducts leaves a residue that discolors and corrodes walls, ceilings, and furniture. Not to mention the pungent odor left behind, which is not only off-putting, but can cause minor respiratory symptoms like coughing and nausea.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the biggest health threat from smoke is from fine particles, which can result in physical symptoms like:

• Burning eyes
• Runny nose
• Coughing and bronchitis
• Aggravation of chronic heart and lung disease

The larger risks of microscopic particles entering your eyes and respiratory system typically result from poor air quality after a major fire incident like a wildfire. However, poor indoor air quality after a fire in a home or business still presents health risks.

Types of Smoke Damage

At Flood Response, we typically target five types of smoke and residue damage, each with their own challenges and specific restoration needs:

• Wet smoke residue: Low heat and smoldering fires leave behind a buildup of carbon and tar that appears as smoke webs with a sticky, pungent residue.
• Dry smoke residue: When fast fires burn at high temperatures, they leave behind powdery ash. While it doesn’t smear like wet smoke residue, it still has a pungent odor.
• Protein residue: Kitchen fires frequently leave behind protein residue from food and oils that can grow rancid and spread pathogens. They also ruin paint and varnishes when not removed quickly.
• Fuel oil soot: Malfunctioning furnaces that puff back can distribute fuel oil soot that not only spreads smoke stains, but increases the risk for another fire.
• Other residues: Fire fighting efforts like extinguishers, chemicals, and fingerprint powder from investigations all leave behind residue that can cause home damage.

Professional fire restoration companies have thorough treatment plans to address every form of smoke residue and odor resulting from a house fire and its aftermath. Each type of residue requires a specific approach to avoid the long-term structural risks and odors of smoke residue.

How to Get Rid of Fire Smoke Smell in the House

In some cases of minor smoke damage or smaller fires, individuals may be able to wash materials like plastics, wood, and marble to remove any stains and get rid of fire smoke smell in the house.

Avoid burning scented candles and using perfume sprays when addressing smoke odors, which only mask the smell. Instead, some minor DIY steps to reduce fire smoke smell might include:

• Create ventilation by opening all doors and windows where possible.
• Circulate air using floor fans or consider air purifiers with a HEPA filter to capture smoke particles.
• Clean surfaces like walls, floors, countertops, and furniture with a damp cloth or simple, diluted vinegar cleaning solution to remove any stains and the smoke smell they carry. However, avoid heavy chemicals that may exasperate the damage more.
• Absorb odors with activated charcoal or baking soda throughout the home or business. You can even put baking soda directly on carpets or rugs and vacuum it later.
• Heavily wash fabrics like curtains, upholstery, or other cloth materials that are laundry machine-safe.
• Professional air duct cleaning to remove any hazardous smoke debris, soot, microscopic particles, and other irritants from your HVAC system.
• Professional carpet cleaning and tile services for deep smoke damage stains and residue using hot water extraction.

It’s always tempting to handle issues in your home or business yourself. But when it comes to the structural integrity and air quality of your property, it’s important to consider calling a professional to assess the damage and help you avoid bigger issues down the road.

Professional Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration

Professional fire restoration companies assess more severe smoke damage and determine whether a given item or area of the property is repairable. A comprehensive approach from experienced, licensed professionals is much more than just fixing visible smoke damage and getting rid of smoke smell in the house. The end result is always about making sure a home or building is structurally sound.

Throughout the fire restoration process, the right company can help you catalog all damage, find you and your family reasonable accommodations, and even work directly with your insurance company to make the process as easy as possible.

The Flood Response Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration Process

The immediate time after a fire is crucial to safely salvage as much as possible. But at Flood Response, we also understand it can be confusing to know what steps to take first. Not to mention the potential emotional toll of going through a life-threatening disaster.

Here’s what you can expect when working with Flood Response’s Fire Damage Restoration Team:

1. Assessment

Our team of IICRC certified experts will comprehensively evaluate your home to find both the obvious and the hidden fire damage. They’ll also be on the lookout for the five key types of smoke damage and residue. Early documentation from the start is essential for our team to work directly with your insurance company.

2. Secure your property

Once we’ve identified the extent of all the fire damage, we’ll coordinate the removal, cleaning, and storage of your belongings. We’ll also board up and/or tarp any openings on the property such as windows and roofs. The seal will protect it from further damage from the elements and we’ll also install protective fencing if necessary.

3. Water removal and dry out

Firefighting requires a lot of water, some of which will inevitably remain in your home. We will remove the water and dry out the affected areas with dehumidifiers and specialized equipment to prevent mold damage.

4. Demolition and removal of debris

After the water in your home has been remediated, we’ll demolish anything that can’t be sufficiently dried out – like drywall or wooden surfaces – and remove all the remaining debris. We’ll also demolish and remove any surfaces and structures affected by the fire itself.

5. Clean-up & smoke removal

Flood Response will remove all traces of soot and damage from walls, ceilings, and other interior spaces to prepare them for restoration. Throughout the project, we will continue to monitor for traces of remaining smoke and soot to avoid further long-term damage and issues.

6. Construction and restoration

Our team will manage the whole process of reconstruction, remodeling, and inspections. That way, you work with one point of contact and can focus on your family and day-to-day responsibilities. We work hard to restore both the visible surfaces and the out-of-sight structures to your house. Your home will feel like home again when you eventually return.

7. Final cleanup

Our job isn’t complete until your home is totally safe to live in again. After the last nail has been hammered in, we will clean each affected area from deodorizing carpets to sealing tile floors. We’ll even clean your air ducts so that every trace of smoke odor and construction dust is gone.

Make Your First Response, Flood Response Whenever Disaster Strikes.

No matter the size of a fire or the extent of smoke damage, getting rid of smoke smell in the house or building presents a challenging situation. Decisive action in cleaning and circulating air can go a long way, but professional fire and smoke damage restoration ensures the structural integrity of a building in the aftermath of a fire.

Home disasters can be scary and overwhelming, but you don’t need to face the unknown alone. At Flood Response Restoration Services, our IICRC-trained and certified technicians, experienced licensed general contractors, and property restoration experts will arrive quickly to begin emergency water extraction, mold removal, or fire restoration services.

For over 20 years, we’ve helped families and business owners in the Coachella Valley area take the right steps to restore their properties and rebuild their lives in the face of disaster. Are you looking for a reliable, full-service disaster recovery service in the Coachella Valley or the surrounding area? Contact Flood Response today!