Preventing Soot and Smoke Damage this Upcoming Winter

11/16/2022 (Permalink)

As the temperature continues to drop, the risk of soot and smoke damage will rise due to faulty heating systems being used for the first time or not being properly inspected.  Puff backs often occur this time of year when a furnace is not working at its best, leading to puffs of soot traveling out of the furnace and throughout an entire home.  These soot chains often take the form of cobwebs in the corners of your home.  However, they are not as easily removed since doing so incorrectly can lead to further damage.

Many other forms of smoke and soot damage can occur due to issues with your fireplace, chimney or HVAC system.  Below, we outline some steps you can take in order to prevent a winter disaster in your own home.

• Hire a certified professional to inspect and clean your chimney.  All chimney flues should have a cap in order to stop a potential chimney block where dirt collects drastically or smoke cannot escape.
• Check your heaters and HVAC systems for signs of failure.
• Clean your gas logs and fireplace regularly.  Ensure that the flue damper is not clogged with debris, and make sure that your logs are safely positioned to help prevent the risk of fire damage.
• Check your boiler and furnace for signs of oil leaks.  A leak means that oil is not burning properly, which can then begin to slowly exit the burner and appear on the surfaces of your home as black soot.  Strange odors or noises can also mean that the oil in the system is building up, which can lead to a puff back.

Always look for damaged or loose components of the systems you use to heat your home. Should you suffer any type of fire damage, SERVPRO of Kennett Square/Oxford can help restore your home to preloss conditions.

Since soot is often not visible on a surface, our dry cleaning sponges allow our fire damage restoration professionals to discover where the soot has spread to.  These sponges are then used to remove all soot from the affected space.  We also provide advanced odor deodorization and removal techniques in addition to our duct cleaning process to help eliminate all signs of smoke and soot from the air and ensure that no particles will circulate through your HVAC system.

SERVPRO of Kennett Square/Oxford provides emergency fire damage services regarding any extent of fire, smoke or soot damage that your home or business may suffer.  Our team is always prepared for when disaster strikes!