The destruction from a structural fire is no joke: it can reduce a tall, wide structure into ashes. But even a small fire can leave visible and invisible damage behind. A house or building can remain standing with areas untouched by a fire, but that doesn’t mean no damage is present. 

We can always assume that smoke damage occurs wherever there is a fire. But what is considered smoke damage, and how can it affect your home? Read on to find out.

Types of Smoke Damage

First, it’s helpful to cover the four known types of smoke damage: dry, wet, protein, and fuel.

1. Dry Smoke Damage: Dry smoke is produced by fast-burning, high-temperature fires that thoroughly consume construction materials. It leaves behind a dry, ashy-white, powdery residue that’s relatively easy to sweep away. However, this ash is very fine and can enter narrow crevices and penetrate porous surfaces.  

Dry smoke damage often causes post-fire odor problems because its residue can lie hidden and untouched for months, even years. For these reasons, hiring fire damage cleanup experts is always a good idea when dealing with dry smoke damage.  

2. Wet Smoke Damage: Wet smoke is the opposite of the above: it emerges in slow-burning, low-temperature fires. It’s more difficult to clean up than dry smoke damage because the residue is thick, sticky, and smears easily. Wiping off wet smoke residue leaves a visible mark on any surface – it can even leave a permanent stain. The residue also has a very sharp and pungent odor that doesn’t quickly disappear. 

The best way to deal with wet smoke damage is to call fire cleanup professionals. They will have proper equipment and cleaning agents that can effectively remove wet smoke residue without causing more damage to the affected surfaces. 

3. Protein Smoke Damage: As the name suggests, this is smoke damage resulting from burning proteins and organic materials, primarily meat, fish, and poultry products. Unsurprisingly, it is most common in kitchens and restaurants that serve cooked meats. 

Protein smoke produces a sticky, colorless residue that can stain wood, tile, concrete, and metal surfaces over time (consider how the backsplash behind a stove tends to be darker than the areas that don’t come into contact with cooking smoke). It also has a strong, pungent odor, but many don’t find the smell repulsive because it’s how most household kitchens smell. This is why most homeowners don’t realize they have an odor problem due to protein smoke damage.

4. Fuel Smoke Damage: This type of smoke damage is also self-descriptive: it results from the improper combustion of fuels and oils. Fuel smoke damage often occurs in basements with gas boilers and furnaces. It is tough to fix and clean because the smoke residue is thick, sticky, and dark with chemical ash and soot. It also has a strong chemical smell that can cause nausea with prolonged exposure.

Fuel smoke spreads quickly, especially since fuel lines are also connected to HVAC systems. The smoke can travel through vents, spreading odors and destructive residue wherever it goes. 

Fuel smoke damage must be cleaned immediately to avoid adverse effects on people’s health and reduce fire hazards. If gasoline traces remain in the HVAC ductwork, a tiny spark might cause another fire. 

Knowing the different types of smoke damage is advantageous when strategizing repairs and fire cleanup. For example, knowing that dry smoke is easy to clean, you can reduce labor costs by cleaning up dry smoke residue in the living room and enlisting professionals to work in the kitchen or boiler room instead. Of course, any DIY cleanup should be done with extreme care and caution and preferably with a professional’s supervision. So coordinate with the company you’ll hire for fire damage cleanup if you want to help.

Signs of Smoke Damage

Smoke damage is challenging because it gets worse the longer it is unaddressed. Quick action and timely repairs are necessary, so knowing what is considered smoke damage and how to identify it is essential.

Here are the signs to watch out for:

• Soot: Black soot is easy to spot. Approach it cautiously: carelessly wiping soot off with a dry or wet rag can smear the fine particles and cause visible discoloration. 
• Discoloration: Yellowing or darkening of tiles and wood is a sign of smoke damage. This can happen without a fire; you’ll find discoloration in regular household kitchens on the wall next to the stove and the ceiling or cabinetry directly above it. 
• Corrosion and Stains on Steel: Metal surfaces can also get smoke damage with frequent and prolonged exposure to smoke. Kitchen appliances with chrome and metal surfaces often tarnish over time because of exposure to protein smoke. Some metal components where sticky residue accumulates become rusty. If left unaddressed, the corrosion can worsen, ruining the appliance’s appearance. 
• Cracked and Cloudy Glass: Windows and glass panels that are frequently exposed to high temperatures and smoke eventually turn cloudy and greasy. Sticky residue from smoke is difficult to remove from glass, and you’ll need an excellent cleaning product and suitable cleaning materials for this. 

Bear in mind, however, that glass with smoke damage is more prone to shattering. You might accidentally apply more pressure than it can endure if you don’t have the right cleaning materials. So, call a professional cleaning and restoration company to clean smoke-damaged windows and glass dividers instead. 

• Adverse Health Effects: If you have doubts about smoke damage in your home, pay attention to your family’s health. Smoke damage can adversely affect people’s respiratory health and overall well-being. Below are some examples of how smoke damage can impact health:
• • Respiratory Issues: People with pre-existing respiratory problems or sensitive to pollen and other particulates are prone to coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing when exposed to concealed soot. It can be dangerous for them to inhale soot particles, so detecting and addressing invisible smoke damage is crucial as quickly as possible.  
  • Allergic Reactions: People sensitive to allergens will also have adverse reactions to exposure to soot and ashy particulates. These allergic reactions can be redness of the eyes and around the nose and mouth area, skin irritation, itchiness, and flaking. Those sensitive to sharp smells might also experience a tightness in their chest and headaches. 
  • Nausea and Dizziness: Prolonged exposure to soot and foul odors can eventually cause nausea, dizziness, and vomiting. Most people will complain of general discomfort because of the smell, but others may experience more severe reactions. 

Notice that many of these signs of damage can exist without a structural fire. Smoke damage is the worst when it results from a fire, but it can still have a lasting impact on a property on its own.

Things Commonly Affected by Smoke Damage

To further assist you in identifying areas or things in your property with smoke damage, here is a list of items most often affected by smoke:

• • Fabrics: Carpets, rugs, curtains, clothing, and upholstery are magnets for soot and smoke residue.
  • Furniture: These include unfinished and finished wood furniture, metal furniture, and furniture with a mix of wood, metals, and glass parts.
  • Appliances: Corrosion due to smoke exposure can damage the electrical systems of appliances. Meanwhile, soot and the smell of smoke can penetrate the interiors of refrigerators, ovens, microwaves, clothes dryers, etc.
  • Ceramics: Ceramics are porous and highly susceptible to stains from pigmented liquids and fine soot.
  • Plastics: Furniture, shelving, and other household items with plastic exteriors can undergo discoloration within minutes of exposure to structural smoke. 
  • Wood: Any part of the house made of wood – the walls, floors, ceilings, pillars – is prone to smoke damage. If a section of timber is frequently exposed to smoke or catches fire, it will show signs of damage like discoloration, warping, and charring.

Address Smoke Damage in Your Property with Restoration 1

Knowing what is considered smoke damage is crucial to saving your property. Since you know what to look for and where to look if a fire breaks out, you can contact smoke damage cleanup and repair experts at the earliest sign of trouble. 

Get in touch with Restoration 1 of Springfield to address smoke damage in your home or commercial property. Our licensed restoration professionals are some of the best in the industry, having years of experience in residential and commercial restorations. Whether your property needs cosmetic repairs or a complete reconstruction, Restoration 1 can do the job. 

Contact Restoration 1 of Springfield to inquire.