The danger of a house fire doesn’t end after the flames are out. The soot could have spread to the entire house, posing a risk to your health as well as the structure. Below, learn more about soot and the dangers it poses, as well as how to repair the damage.
What Is Soot From Fire? And What Should You Do About It
Soot is composed of small carbon particles that have been formed by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels like wood, oil, and coal. Soot is rich in acids as well as chemicals and metals. These particles can leave a foul odor and a horrible sight.
Soot can attach to surfaces and spread to other areas of the house during a fire. If the soot isn’t removed quickly, it can cause further damage to your indoor air quality and home.
Even if you haven’t lit a fire, soot can still settle in your home. To prevent soot buildup from occurring, avoid excessive use of candles. They can also pose a fire hazard. If fireplaces are not properly ventilated, they can also release soot. Furnaces can also cause soot contamination if they create a puffback.
When fossil fuels are used for industrial purposes, soot can be released outdoors. The ecosystem is greatly affected by the chemical compounds in soot. The indoor air quality of your home is also affected by soot, which can cause bad odors and stains.
What dangers can soot exposure pose?
Inhalation, ingestion, skin contact and even ingestion can all allow for soot to enter the body. These harmful particles can cause asthma, bronchitis and coronary heart disease. The most vulnerable are infants, elderly and people with existing breathing problems.
You can avoid potential health hazards from soot exposure following a fire at home by cleaning and disinfecting all affected areas.
How do you clean up soot
Many chemicals are likely to be found in your house, including plastics, foams and carpets as well as wood products and synthetic fabrics. These chemicals can cause health problems and make fire restoration dangerous and difficult. Even though the fire was small soot particles can infiltrate your entire property via the HVAC system.
To reduce the dangers of soot exposure, it is important to wear safety equipment when cleaning soot. To restore indoor air quality after a fire, specialized techniques like thermal fogging and air scrubbing are required.
To remove soot, a dust mask and a cleaner for the home are not sufficient. Professional tools, knowledge and expertise are required to remove soot completely. Experts can clean your whole home of soot and other odors to make it safe for you to live in.
