The Lasting Effects of Fire & Smoke Damage on Union County Homes

If your home has suffered through a fire, immediate action is needed. You’ll require emergency fire damage restoration services. Waiting too long could mean the situation worsens, and your Union County home may suffer. That’s not all, though. Your health is also at risk. The smoke and soot will spread in time, engulfing the property and leading to serious contamination and health hazards. It’s a troubling scene, to say the least.

While many of us will be concerned about our property, we should all be worried about our health. Following a serious house fire, the fire and smoke damage will cause lasting health risks around the home. The smoke may linger for several weeks. Even worse, a thick layer of soot and smoke, present on your household possessions, can be troublesome to remove. You’ll need advanced restoration equipment.

• Breathing Concerns – Breathing in copious amounts of smoke can be extremely damaging to the lungs and throat. Before long, you may endure shortness of breath, chronic coughing fits, bronchitis, asthma, and respiratory disease.
• Skin Issues – The particles left in the air by smoke and soot damage are severely irritating to the skin. They cause immense dryness that cannot be satisfied with common household lotions. Even worse, 3rd-degree burns are entirely possible.
• Eye Irritation – The irritants in the air can also cause tearing and redness of the eyes. If they become itchy, rubbing can worsen the reaction and lead to temporary vision loss.
• Long-Term – There are numerous long-term health risks associated with fire and smoke damage. These include, but are not limited to, an increased risk of cancer, stroke, heart attack, respiratory disease, and developmental disabilities in infants.

The following substances are released into your home when a fire breaks out. As these materials burn, they release toxins into the area that remain until properly cleaned by a restoration team.

• PVC – hydrogen chloride, dioxin chloromethane, halocarbons, phosgene, and bromomethane.
• Carbon materials – ammonia, nitrogen oxides, tar, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide.
• Sulfur – sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and thiols.
• Wood – nearly 100 chemicals also found in cigarette smoke.
• Building materials from before the 1980s – Mesothelioma

As you can clearly see, there are countless chemicals released during a house fire. These cause all manner of respiratory disease and illness. Thankfully, the entire mess can be cleaned by a restoration team with the right tools and training. The most advanced restoration equipment, including personal protective equipment, will help get the job done right.

For 24-hour fire and smoke damage restoration without the worry of long-term damage or health risks, call Restoration 1 of Summit. You can reach us anytime by calling 973-250-4306!