Getting Rid of Soot Odors after Fire Damage

3/27/2019 (Permalink)

Getting Rid of Soot Odors after Fire Damage

Any Cleveland homeowner who is unfortunate enough to face a house fire of any size knows that the lingering smell of soot is unpleasant. We at SERVPRO see this all the time in our work – even after restoration is complete and the affected area is thoroughly cleaned, the smell of soot often lingers and is very distressing for homeowners.

In some cases, the best way to remove smoke smells after fire damage is utilizing a piece of equipment called an ozone machine. Ozone machines are odor removal powerhouses. They are capable of removing even pungent soot odors and making a home smell fresh and clean once more.

There is only one drawback of ozone machines, and that is that we cannot use them in places where there are people, plants or pets. That means that they are not suitable for use in fire restoration situations where you are still living in your home during cleaning. However, if you have to move out for a few days during restoration, ozone is an ideal solution for post-fire smells.

Ozone is a naturally occurring gas. Ozone occurs after lightning strikes or during thunderstorms and is responsible for the fresh, clean smell you notice in the air after a storm passes.

Ozone is also known as nature’s deodorizer due to its ability to remove unpleasant smells. SERVPRO of Gateway uses it in fire restoration situations because it has a powerful deodorizing effect on lingering soot smells.

How does ozone act as a deodorizer? It is a straightforward process. Ozone is an unstable molecule, and it reacts quickly to other molecules when it comes into contact with them. The extra oxygen atom in the ozone binds to odor particles and destroys them. This chemical reaction takes the molecules apart and thus gets rid of the smell.

We train our certified technicians to apply ozone with due care and attention. We properly contain the affected area, and our team knows just how much ozone to apply for maximum effect.

Because ozone has a short life, your home is safe to inhabit very soon after the treatment is complete.

For situations where it seems impossible to get rid of that lingering smell, ozone is a powerful solution.

For help dealing with the cleanup after a fire, call SERVPRO of Gateway for help.