Can Smoke Damage in Your Home Upset Your Health?

House fires are dangerous for you, your loved ones and your home. They demand the need of fire damage restoration at first, but even when the flames are extinguished, you're left with another hazardous, nuisance: smoke damage. No matter the fire's size, large or small, smoke can affect your entire residence. The odor from smoke can penetrate the home by finding its way into walls, vents and other hard-to-reach places, and it can affect your personal belongings. The smoke soot leftover from the fire can also induce damage to your residence. As a fire damage restoration company, Paul Davis understands how devastating a fire can be and how dangerous smoke damage is to you and your residence. Clearing out any fragments from smoke damage is just as essential as cleaning up fire damage. Lingering soot and smoke can actually damage the health of anyone living inside the home. It isn't safe to live inside a home with smoke contamination, even if all the smoke has been removed, there could still be soot and particles sticking around. That's why it's critical to get a professional to inspect your home after you've experienced a home fire.

Health Complications that Happen from Smoke Damage

Fire damage produces soot and ash, but the hazardous materials that remain in the smoke often contain carbons and tar. One of the primary things you need to be cognizant of smoke damage is the extremely dangerous gas, carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is invisible, odorless and tasteless, and that's why it's important to have a professional come to your residence for fire and smoke damage restoration. A professional contractor can check the levels of carbon monoxide in your residence after a fire has taken place. Carbon monoxide, tar and other residue that are generated from smoke damage can cause some frightening health issues, these can include:

  • Respiratory Issues – When smoke damage is neglected, the dangers of breathing in carbon monoxide and other residue can make breathing difficult and can cause concern for your lungs and sinuses. Just because the area is free from smoke doesn't mean it's safe to live in. Your carpet and furniture could be embedded with small particles and other residue that could simply be inhaled into the lungs. That's why it's important to remove any smoke damage after you've had a fire.
  • Skin Damage – Serious skin irritation that can't be treated from lotion can be provoked from soot and smoke residue, which could potentially need medical attention. Since smoke has the ability to get into furniture and clothing, there could be small particles remaining that irritate the skin.
  • Eye Irritation – Your eyes are prone to smoke damage, and when it sticks around in your residence your eyes can become red, itchy and watery. It's crucial to clear your house of smoke damage because if it is neglected, your eyes could become injured from it.

Fire Damage Restoration and Smoke Damage Eradication

Getting fire damage restoration and smoke removal isn't only beneficial for your property, but also your health. If you've experienced a fire in your residence, you can trust the fire damage restoration experts at Paul Davis. Reach out to us at (403)342-4666 and a franchise near you will be there to assist.