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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

The Danger Of Soot After a Fire

7/9/2021 (Permalink)

How to Clean Soot After a Fire

Unfortunately, the effects of a fire in your Charlotte, NC home or business can reveal themselves well beyond the fire’s occurrence. The most common cause of house fires is from cooking, usually when an individual leaves a pot or a pan unattended until smoke emerges from the kitchen into surrounding rooms. Sometimes the resulting smoke and soot can leave more damage than what the actual fire left behind, but rest assured, our clean-up crew at SERVPRO of South Mecklenburg County knows just how to clean every crevice and stop the spread of soot and smoke.

What Is Soot?

Soot is a powdery, flaky substance that is composed mostly of carbon that can travel through the air and is the result of incomplete combustion of materials such as coal, oil, and wood. While it is harmful to those residing in the home or property, it also can be very difficult to completely remove because of its sticky consistency that can stain walls and surfaces if it is not treated quickly and properly.

How Do I Identify Soot?

Individual soot particles are very small; in fact, they are smaller than dust particles. When they accumulate into dark black dust spots is when it becomes visible to us. Soot build-up can be found in areas far away from where the original source of the fire is because it travels easily through the ventilation system or even just through the air. Soot also has a distinct smell - hints of smoke, ash, or a general smelly odor are usually a result of soot formation.

Is Soot Harmful?

Soot is harmful because the particles contain acids, chemicals, metals, and dust from the substances burned during a fire. These particles then latch on to the surrounding environment, leaving your walls and ceilings prone to side effects like unappealing odors and stains. 

If soot build-up is untreated for too long or improperly tended to, especially in your HVAC system, tiny amounts of soot can be circulated throughout your home, making the cleaning process more difficult.

Next Steps

It is highly recommended to hire a professional team to effectively clean up after a fire has occurred, such as those at SERVPRO in South Mecklenburg County. For more information about our services, contact us at (704) 840-6112.

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