It was early spring when the Thompson family in Idaho Falls found their kitchen engulfed in flames. Fortunately, they were able to respond to the fire quickly, but it left thick smoke in every room of the house. Smoke covered the furniture in the living room. Smoke was essentially everywhere air would flow, i.e., the ventilation system, and building materials. Like many others, they thought that once the soot settled and the smoke dispersed, they could pick up life right where they left off. Unfortunately, that would turn out to be substantially costly and dangerous.
A few days after returning, the Thompsons began to experience coughing, allergies, sore eyes, and were dealing with that undeniable smell of smoke that just wouldn’t go away. Smoke damage is more extensive than people think. They called in the professionals who do smoke damage restoration in Idaho Falls and were informed of the extent of the contamination. In order to safely occupy the property, a deep clean, deodorization, and purification process would need to happen.
Risks of Smoke Damage in Idaho Falls
Smoke damage can adversely affect your home and HVAC systems, even at very low levels:
- Walls and ceilings: Your walls and ceilings can discolor and become stained from smoke and may need to be repainted or, in extreme cases, completely replaced.
- HVAC system: Smoke odor and contaminants can be distributed by your HVAC system through ductwork and filters, causing cross-contamination and continued odor issues.
- Electrical components: Smoke residue is both corrosive and acidic, causing irreparable damage to electrical components, outlets, and circuit boards.
- Furniture and fabrics: Upholstery, drapes, and carpets absorb smoke odor and will need specialized cleaning or possibly disposal.
Even if you feel satisfied that you have cleaned everything, unless everything has gone through a thorough smoke damage restoration process, and you have an air quality and diagnostic report, the air and surfaces in your home could still be harmful.
Should You Live in a Home That Has Smoke Damage?
Technically, you can. However, the following reasons should cause you to reconsider living in a home with smoke damage:
- Air Quality – Certainly, if the problem of smoke damage is not corrected by professional remediation, the indoor air quality will be a major factor leading to chronic health problems.
- Structural Concerns – Smoke could weaken building materials and/or cause damage to structural elements.
- Odor – The smoky odor will not only be chronic and unpleasant, but it is also a reflection of contamination.
- Insurance Problems – You may be complicating your insurance claim or coverage; it could develop into an issue if you are still residing in the home.
Before making the decision to remain in your home, you should first hire a smoke damage restoration company in Idaho Falls to conduct an inspection and use a laboratory for air quality testing.
What Smoke Damage Restoration Professionals Do
Professional teams will use a thorough, multi-step approach to get your home back to a safe and livable condition:
- Assessment and inspection – Trained professionals will assess the extent of the smoke damage using specialized equipment.
- Ventilation and air filtration – Using HEPA air scrubbing devices or ozone machines to remove harmful particles from your indoor environment.
- Soot and residue removal – Dry-cleaning sponges, chemical cleaners, and industrial vacuums are used to remove residue.
- Deodorization – Treating the air and surfaces in your home with thermal fogging, ozone treatment, or hydroxyl generators to eliminate long-standing smoke odors.
- Restoration – Refinishing and/or replacing damaged materials in your home.
If you are searching the web for smoke damage restoration near me, you will want to make sure that the company you choose offers these services and others.
Need for Smoke Damage in Commercial Properties
Smoke damage not only affects residences; it can wreak havoc on businesses. For property managers, restaurant owners, or office tenants, every day is a day on which they are losing revenue. That is why the process of professional commercial smoke damage restoration minimizes disruption with an emphasis on getting them back into their building as soon as possible. Highly specialized teams can service:
- Office spaces, especially with electronic equipment and/or servers
- Warehouses with sensitive inventory
- Restaurants with ventilation and kitchen systems affected
- Retail spaces have to deal with odor removal and the restoration of structural systems
Time is of the essence in any commercial business, so getting there quickly is a key step in protecting them from long-term impacts.
Long-Term Prevention Measures for Smoke Damage
After your home has been restored, it is wise to consider ways to prevent another exposure to smoke damage:
- Install a smoke alarm in every room and test it each month.
- Keep fire extinguishers easily accessible and ensure that everyone knows how to use them.
- Avoid smoking indoors or burning candles unattended.
- Have your HVAC system cleaned to eliminate the chance of smoke lingering in ducts.
- Have a fire safety plan in place and practice it with the family.
Don’t Risk Your Safety, Call Rainbow Restoration of Idaho Falls Today
Living with smoke damage is not just an inconvenience; it is a health risk that can add financial strain. The emotional toll of a fire is substantial enough without the extra anxiety of worrying about the lingering invisible and visible dangers within the air you breathe or the surfaces to which you are exposed.
If you are unsure whether it is safe to return to your home, don't take chances. Depend on a professional evaluation of your home and the proper restoration for your health and peace of mind.
Rainbow Restoration of Idaho Falls is a local, trusted contractor that specializes in disaster recovery, fire damage, smoke damage recovery, and mold remediation. With years of hands-on experience and a commitment to high-quality service, our team helps homeowners and businesses recover efficiently and safely. As an industry leader in high-quality smoke damage restoration near me, we use top-of-the-line methods and equipment to ensure your space is clean, odor-free, and healthy for all occupants.
Whether it's a small kitchen incident or a full-blown property fire, Rainbow Restoration is there to alleviate the stress and restore peace of mind. Contact us today to schedule a consultation or to learn more about our smoke damage restoration services in Idaho Falls.
