4 Signs of Smoke Damage

10/26/2021 (Permalink)

4 Smoke Damage Symptoms

Smoke damage can be more subtle than fire damage, but it can undermine air quality in a commercial property. If you want to know whether smoke cleaning will eliminate all traces of the odor, check for these four signs of damage caused by smoke.

1. Stains on walls, ceilings, or other surfaces. Smoke can cause yellowish stains to appear on surfaces. Smoke consists of a combination of partially or completely burned particles, vapors, and toxic gases. These substances can cause discoloration to show up within a few days of damage.

2. Signs of rust or corrosion on metal. The sudden formation of rust on metal items is one of the most telltale signs of damage caused by smoke. This damage can start to occur within hours of exposure to smoke. If you see evidence of corrosion on visible metal, you should be very careful with electronics. Circuits and wires can become corroded and malfunction or fail.

3. Smoke odor emerging from porous contents. Smoke odors may linger long after exposure within the carpet or furniture in your commercial property. This odor gets trapped in porous contents, and smoke cleaning or deodorization may be necessary to eliminate the smell.

4. Smoky smells in your HVAC system. If smoky air has gotten drawn into the air ducts or HVAC system in your commercial property, the odor will periodically cycle throughout your property. This can lower air quality and may cause respiratory issues for sensitive employees or occupants.

If you detect one or more signs of smoke damage in a commercial property in Highland Beach, FL, you should contact your commercial property insurance provider and ask about your coverage. Most commercial insurance policies will contribute toward, if not completely cover, the cost of smoke cleaning. Once you check your coverage, you should contact a certified remediation company and schedule a damage assessment and cleanup.