Every year, after a wildfire, people air out their homes, believing they have eliminated the smoke odor for good. Then comes the rainy season or a humid day, and the smoke smell reappears. Without a proven plan for removing odors from contents and structures, it is common for an odor to be present one day and gone the next, only to reappear sometime later.
Effective Smoke Odor Removal
In certain instances, the smell of smoke returning can also trigger unpleasant memories, such as watching a house burn down or a wildfire burn at night while firefighters battle to contain it. This is why any restoration company needs an efficient smoke odor removal process.
Restoration work after a fire can be lucrative and leave a good impression on clients. On the other hand, contractors require effective processes and techniques to rebuild or restore a structure after a fire and completely remove the smoke odor.
Here are some top tips for permanently removing smoke odor from a fire-damaged home:
Remove Visibly Damaged Items
Everything in the house that cannot be restored or cleaned should be removed. This could include severely damaged cabinetry from a kitchen fire, burned carpet, melted plastic, and other similar items. Wear the appropriate PPE as your crew removes the items. Fire-damaged items can emit a variety of toxic VOCs and dioxins.
Large items without physical damage that smell smoky may be able to stay in the home and remove the odor as part of the overall structural restoration process, depending on your smoke odor exterminator method.
Clean Thoroughly
Make sure you have an effective degreaser and cleaners on hand. To improve cleaning efficiency, consider using reusable or disposable microfiber cloths. Next, wipe down all surfaces, including walls, counters, floors, furniture, and doors. It may take several passes to remove all of the soot residues. You can read more on this link.
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Run Odor Removal Equipment
What is your preferred method of odor removal? There are machines like hydroxyl and ozone, as well as products like CLO2 and odor masking agents that you can buy and use.
Let’s assume you’re using one of the most popular and effective odor removal methods: hydroxyl. Consider installing and running these machines from the first day on the job. The hydroxyl radicals, which remove smoke odor from the air, can also break down and remove malodors from the contents of a structure.
Seal Any Surfaces As Necessary
Assume you have thick wooden beams or other porous surfaces that you suspect have a deep-penetrating smoke odor. In that case, you should think about sealing those surfaces just in case. This is a popular technique for use on thick wooden beams.
Do Some Sniff Tests
Do you want to be sure the odors are completely gone? Perform some sniff tests around the house! This is especially important when a homeowner’s belongings are returned. Smell some furniture and walls. Do you notice anything? Assume you followed the manufacturer’s instructions for odor removal equipment and products. If so, you ought to be able to leave the house with assurance that the stink has been eradicated and won’t return.
