4 Types of Smoke Damage

4/7/2022 (Permalink)

The 4 types of smoke damage

Smoke and soot residue is one of the toughest challenges of restoration after fire damage. We will determine how to restore your property by first determining what type of residue was left behind. Some types are easier to clean than others.

At SERVPRO of the Attleboros, we use a variety of techniques to eliminate the different types of smoke damage/ residue from your Berkley home or business.

The four categories that smoke and soot residue can fall into are:

1. Dry residue – dry and powdery residue. Easier to clean if on the surface. Can fall into cracks or get into upholstery and other porous materials.
2. Wet residue – thick, black smoke. Leaves a thick sticky residue with a strong-smelling odor.
3. Protein residue- almost invisible residue, will discolor paints, and produces a very strong, unpleasant odor.
4. Fuel oil residue- thick smoke, usually takes more time to clean, the residue will be greasy

Dry and wet smoke residue

Every fire generates some type of wet and dry residue. Some may produce more of one than the other. If the fire is fast and has an abundance of oxygen supply, it deposits dry residue. Fires that burn slower and have less oxygen produce a mostly wet residue.

Wood, cork, and paper produce a dry smoke. Synthetic materials such as plastic and fabrics will produce wet smoke.

Protein residue

When meat, beans, etc., catch on fire it will leave a grease-looking residue. This usually takes a bit longer to clean than dry or wet residues due to its greasy nature.

Fuel oil residue

This is usually seen less often, it is produced from a furnace puff-back. This produces a thick smoke due to the fuel oil not fully burning. This residue can also be very greasy and time-consuming to clean.