4 Reasons to Begin Fire Restoration Immediately After a Fire

3/11/2021 (Permalink)

We were called to a Lake Travis home to help with their fire damage - always here to help!

Blog Summary: The experts at SERVPRO of Lake Travis / NW Austin explain why it is important to begin fire restoration immediately after a property is damaged by fire, from preventing further damage to reducing the chances of smoke damage. 

A house fire can be traumatic, and the aftermath can be overwhelming. Many homeowners find themselves so overwhelmed, in fact, that they put off starting the fire damage restoration process. However, that can be a bigger mistake than many people realize.

The experts at SERVPRO of Lake Travis / NW Austin are committed to minimizing the losses Austin homeowners suffer as a result of house fires. SERVPRO is a leading locally owned fire restoration company with the resources of a major national franchise. Here are five reasons they encourage homeowners not to delay the fire restoration process. 

4 Reasons to Begin Fire Damage Restoration Immediately

 #1: Smoke Damage

Smoke from a fire quickly travels beyond the fire’s origin—and the hotter the fire, the faster the smoke will spread. No matter how far from the fire itself, any room that smoke enters can end up with smoke residue. Smoke residue can settle behind curtains and in spaces around furniture and cupboards. 

Smoke can also enter a building’s ductwork. After that, each time the HVAC system runs, harmful particles will be spread throughout the home. They may even damage the HVAC system itself. The sooner smoke residue is cleaned up, the less damage it will do.

# 2: Acidic Soot Damage

Immediately after extinguishing the fire, residual soot starts falling and settling on surfaces. Soot is high in acidity and very destructive. Without quick mitigation, soot can cause big problems, including destroying natural surfaces, discoloring materials, and degrading metals. 

The magnetic charges in soot particles can even cause electrical short circuits, destroying electronics and posing the risk of causing a second fire.

#3: Health Implications of Smoke, Soot, and Mold

Inhaling smoke and soot residues is dangerous. Water used to extinguish the fire also must also be cleaned up quickly to prevent mold growth. Mold poses health effects and can be very difficult to get rid of once it’s established. 

Starting the fire restoration process right away will not only restore air quality in the structure but will get things dry and the humidity back to a safe level.

#4 Smoke Odors

Without quick fire damage restoration efforts, smoke odors can absorb into porous materials, where they are very hard to remove. In cases, they can’t be removed, and things like couches and sheetrock may need to be replaced. Dealing with set-in smoke odors can add significant cost and time to the fire damage restoration process as a result.

About SERVPRO

For over three decades, SERVPRO has provided home and business owners in the Lake Travis and Lago Vista, TX, area with the highest quality fire damage restoration services possible, striving to make the overwhelming aftermath of a house fire just a little less stressful. They also offer water removal, storm damage repair, mold remediation, and commercial cleaning services. 

For more information about fire damage or the fire damage restoration process, reach out to SERVPRO at (512) 318-2202.

Contact Information:

SERVPRO of Lake Travis / NW Austin

6500 River Place Boulevard

Building 7 – Suite 250 

Austin, TX 78730

www.SERVPROlaketravisnwaustin.com/