What Fire Damage Does to Your Home’s Air Quality & Why It Needs Attention?

Each year, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), U.S. fire departments respond to approximately 346,000 fires in homes, which not only damage property but also pose continual hazards through indoor air quality (IAQ). Yes, fire causes visible damage like burned walls, walls stained with soot, and loss of structure, but one of the most neglected and harmful effects is the invisible impact on IAQ. 

Toxins inhaled, particulates emitted, and other gases released can harm the health and safety of your family long after the fire is extinguished.

At Restoration 1 of Minnetonka, we know all aspects of fire damage restoration in Minnetonka and how a fire impacts indoor environments at the microscopic level. This blog provides details on what fire damage does to your home's air quality, the health effects, and why it is imperative to act quickly with professional restoration.

The Impact – What Does Fire Do to Indoor Air?

Even a small fire leaves a myriad of substances in the atmosphere of your home. You could lose everything in your home, but even the soot and smoke from burning everyday items (like plastics, wood, electronics, furniture, and insulation) will emit gases that contain toxic materials and harmful particulates. These chemicals can stay suspended in the indoor environment for days and weeks unless they are treated correctly.

Common Airborne Contaminants after Fire:

• Carbon monoxide (CO) – a deadly, odorless gas resulting from incomplete combustion.
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde released into the air from the burning of synthetic materials.
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) – carcinogenic and derived from burning organic materials.
• Particulate matter (PM2.5) – fine particles small enough to travel deep inside the lungs and bloodstream.
• Soot and smoke particulates (smoke powder) – problematic, irritating to the respiratory and pulmonary airways, and can become trapped in a home's ductwork, carpets, and upholstery.

All of these air pollutants affect the indoor air quality of the home and result in pollutants that can create highly toxic environments that require more than a simple cleaning or airing out of the home.

Health Effects of Post-Fire Indoor Air Pollution

Poor indoor air quality, particularly after a fire, has immediate and long-term health risks, primarily for small children, the elderly, and those with chronic respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. If home occupants experience smoke particulates and chemical residues within the air and surfaces, it can contribute to or exacerbate respiratory and/or cardiovascular conditions, leading to:

• Asthma and/or bronchitis
• Irritation of the eyes, nose, or throat
• Chronic headaches or dizziness
• Skin rashes or allergic reactions
• Fatigue, confusion, or loss of concentration

Additionally, habitual or long-term exposure may increase the chances of individuals developing lung disease, heart disease, or cancer, depending on the toxins released during the event. That’s why smoke damage cleanup in Minnetonka is critical for every occupant of the home, not only for comfort but also for health and safety reasons.

How Fire Contaminants Remain in the Home

Many homeowners underestimate airborne toxins and how they don’t just go away after the smoke clears. Smoke and soot can permeate just about every surface and system of the home. HVAC ducts will circulate the smoke-tainted air. Additionally, smoke residues will penetrate porous materials, drywall, insulation, carpeting, and furniture will all have smoke residues embedded in them.

If a homeowner doesn’t get a professional involved in dealing with the contamination, these elements will continue to impact air quality and invade the home space long after the fire’s flames go out.

Why Air Quality Needs to Be Addressed Right Away After a Fire

If you wait to address air quality and restoration issues after a fire, the contaminants will gradually settle deeper into your home, where they will be harder and much more expensive to remove. What’s more, HVAC systems and air circulation may carry pollutants into rooms that previously had nothing to do with the fire, evolving a regional issue into a whole-house issue.

• Mold and mildew can quickly develop from moisture and hoses used to fight the fire.
• Unremediated soot can cause permanent damage to HVAC and electronics.
• Smell from the smoke can become permanently embedded in materials and will be more difficult to remove over time.
• Continuous unsafe air exposure can endanger the health of occupants.

Because of these points, most fire damage restoration services in Minnetonka companies will want a homeowner to call them as soon as it is deemed safe to enter the house.

Professional Process to Restore Air Quality After a Fire

Restoration 1 of Minnetonka implements a specific process for bringing safe, breathable air back to residences affected by fire. Initiating our fire restoration process is simple. Each phase of our approach is structured to remove contamination from the source and stop any further transportation of the contaminants through the following:

1. Emergency Evaluation
   Our technicians arrive on-site promptly to assess the extent of the fire and air contamination. Using diagnostic equipment, we address airborne contaminants, measure soot levels, and locate hidden areas of concern.
2. Air Closure and Filtration
   We use industrial scrubbers equipped with HEPA and activated carbon filters to remove airborne particles from smoke, odors, and VOCs. These units run continuously to filter out harmful particulates from the air.
3. HVAC Clean and Sanitize
   We access and clean every part of the HVAC system in your home, replacing filters, addressing soot in ductwork, and possibly fogging to disinfect and deodorize air duct systems.
4. Cleanup
   We effectively and safely cleaned everything that had been affected, including walls, ceilings, flooring, furniture, and soft goods. Agents specifically designed to neutralize soot and other contaminants are used in your home.
5. Deodorization
   Smoke odor removal is completed through ozone treatment, thermal fogging, or a hydroxyl generator. The chosen method depends on the severity of the contamination.

In some situations, we also offer fire damage repair in Minnetonka to restore any structural elements that have been damaged or made unsafe by the fire or cleanup process.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Underestimate the Impact of Fire on Air Quality

Fire damage isn’t just burnt walls and broken glass. Many times, a fire can be a serious threat to the air you and your family breathe daily. Invisible toxins from the contaminants may linger, and without professional remediation, you may risk compromising your family’s health and safety again.

If you ignore the fact that you’ve already experienced the wrath of indoor air quality issues, they may come back in the form of chronic health problems or costly, inconvenient issues to repair long-term. 

At Restoration 1 of Minnetonka, we offer complete, caring, and prompt service when it comes to recovering from fire and smoke damage. From 24/7 emergency response to full fire damage restoration service in Minnetonka, our only goal is to get your home back to a place of safety and comfort.

As a local organization, our goal is to serve the Minnetonka community with integrity, urgency, and care. If you are a homeowner who has experienced fire or smoke damage, contact us as soon as possible. Let us help you breathe easily, safely, and confidently.