Miami residents often seek the expertise of home restoration services in the aftermath of a fire or flood. Experienced professionals are equipped with both the expertise and equipment to deliver comprehensive solutions, which often include odor control after water & fire damage. Dealing with stubborn odor from smoke or damp walls isn’t usually the first step in the restoration process, but it is almost just as important. Odors are a reminder of the unfortunate event, and therefore, you need to breathe fresh to feel at home once again. 

In this post, we’ll talk about the causes of odor after a fire and flood, and give readers an overview of the odor control process.

What Causes Odors?

Most people know that odors are a by-product of a fire or flood. However, most people don’t understand the specific causes of odors. Let’s check them out:

How Flooding Causes Odors

Inexperienced professionals often don’t consider odor control after water & fire damage on their assessment, and even if they do, it falls on the non-priority to-do list. As a result, many clients notice a persisting pungent odor that doesn’t go away over time. The three primary causes of this are sewage, mold, and bacteria. 

Burst pipelines or sewage overflow creates a distinct smell that doesn’t dissipate until extensive repairs. Secondly, flood or blackwater contains harmful bacteria that can easily seep into furniture, walls, floors, and even ceilings. If the walls or furniture aren’t cleaned thoroughly, the bacteria will reproduce and emit a powerful, unpleasant smell in your space. And lastly, if the drying process is delayed or ineffective, your home can become a perfect environment for mold buildup. Not only does this lead to structural damage, but it also leaves behind an outdoorsy, grassy smell. 

How Fire Causes Odors

A strong, unpleasant odor following a fire is usually due to three causes – soot, smoke, and entrapped smells in the floors, ceilings, and walls. Most professionals can easily identify soot since it’s the most visible cause. However, it’s not easy to effectively remove due to its dry, oily, sticky, or flaky appearance. Only experienced home restoration services in Miami have a solution for every form since their removal requires unique tools and approaches. 

The second major culprit is smoke, which usually persists even after the restoration efforts are complete, especially following large-scale fires. Smoke is the result of incomplete combustion of gas and solid particles, and therefore, it contains different chemicals and fumes which cause an unpleasant smell. And finally, smoke can also seep through furniture, clothes, walls, ceilings, and floors. 

The Odor Control Process After Water & Fire Damage

Here are the three common restoration processes following a fire or flood:

Airborne Particles

Airborne particles are usually the first concern water and fire damage repair services take care of following the event. Inadequate or delayed elimination of mold, soot, and smoke particles can lead to severe health hazards and long-lasting odor. Professionals use commercial-grade air scrubbers that extract and remove small debris and particles from the air. 

Furniture and Fabric

Floods can cause black water and bacteria to seep into furniture. Restoration experts start by using industrial-grade air movers that provide high-velocity airflow to speed up the drying process. The next step is soot removal, which involves cleaning using commercial detergents and chemicals. Untreated water damage and mold removal also involves drying and cleaning using HEPA filters, rubbing alcohol, and water. 

Walls, Floors, and Carpet

Odor removal from damaged walls, floors, and carpets is far more challenging. Unlike furniture and fabric, they can’t be removed or replaced in most cases, and require a long restoration process for effective odor control. The restoration team first inspects the walls for cracks, mold, and other water damages using moisture meters. They use industrial dehumidifiers and air movers to initiate the drying process. In the aftermath of a fire, the team removes soot using sanders, mild cleaners, and bleaching agents. 

Odor removal from hardwood floors involves a similar process but can be cleaned within a week of the event. Carpets, unfortunately, require more steps to fully extract the soot or mold, including using a steam cleaning system. 

Renowned Home Restoration Services

Odor control after water & fire damage is a process best left to the professionals. Home restoration services set timelines for projects, assess the damages, and deploy the right team of experts and equipment for the job. When choosing a company, never opt for those with low-quality, unreliable odor removal equipment since they’re essential for appropriate solutions. 

At 911 Restoration in Miami, we have it all: the knowledge and expertise to assess and repair any water and fire damage situation, high-quality, industry-grade equipment, and superior customer service. Therefore, you can rest assured that our IICRC-certified team will make sure you breathe fresh air again at your property in no time. 

Feel free to call us for more information regarding our home restoration services.