Fire and smoke damage: questions and answers
Direct answers about fire and smoke damage to homes. Questions about the health effects of smoking are outside our field and are not covered here.
Call 24/7: (416) 938-455226 questions people search for, each answered in a few sentences. Where there is more to say, the answer links to the full guide.
What is considered smoke damage? What does it mean?
Soot, residue, staining and odour left on a building and its contents by smoke, including in rooms the fire never reached. It includes corrosion of metals and electronics caused by acidic residue.
What does smoke damage look like on walls?
Grey, black or yellow-brown discolouration, darkest above the fire and at the tops of walls, with streaks above doorways and vents and cobweb-like soot chains in corners. Lines can show where studs and nails sit behind the paint.
How much smoke does it take to cause smoke damage?
Very little. A pot burned on the stove or a brief fire in one room can leave residue and odour through a whole house, especially if the furnace fan was running.
Is smoke damage harmful?
Yes. Soot is fine particulate that irritates the lungs, and residues from burned plastics and synthetics can be acidic or toxic. Children, older adults and people with breathing or heart conditions are most affected.
Is smoke damage permanent or reversible? Can it be removed?
Most smoke damage can be removed if cleaning starts soon. Left for days and weeks, acidic residues etch glass, tarnish metal and stain plastics and finishes permanently.
How long does smoke damage and smoke smell last?
Until the residue is removed. It does not fade away. The smell eases in dry weather and returns when it is humid, for years, if soot remains on framing, in ducts or in soft furnishings.
Does smoke smell eventually go away on its own?
Light smoke from a brief event fades with airing over days. Smell from a real fire or years of indoor smoking does not go until surfaces are cleaned, sealed or replaced.
Does smoke smell rise or fall? Can it travel between rooms?
Hot smoke rises and spreads along ceilings, then sinks as it cools, so it reaches every level. It travels through doorways, wall cavities, ducts and gaps around pipes and wiring.
Can smoke smell cause headaches, nausea or trigger asthma?
Smoke residue and odour can irritate the airways and are commonly reported to cause headaches and nausea, and smoke is a known asthma trigger. If symptoms persist, see a doctor, and avoid staying in a heavily smoke-affected home.
Why do I smell smoke when there is none?
First rule out a real source: check for a smouldering fire, an electrical fault, a neighbour's chimney or wildfire smoke outdoors. If there is no source and it keeps happening, it can be a medical symptom, so speak to a doctor.
Why does it smell like smoke outside today?
Usually wildfire smoke carried from elsewhere, wood stoves in cold still weather, or a local fire. Check the Air Quality Health Index from Environment and Climate Change Canada for your area.
Can smoke damage a computer, TV or other electronics?
Yes. Soot is conductive and corrosive, and devices with fans draw it inside. Do not switch on exposed electronics. Have them cleaned by a specialist.
Can smoke damage an air conditioner or furnace?
Yes. Soot is drawn into the blower, coil and ducts and is then blown through the house. The system should be cleaned and the filter replaced before it is run.
Does smoke damage clothes? Does the smell come out?
Smoke clings to fabric, and ordinary washing and a hot dryer can set the smell. Lightly affected clothes can be laundered and air-dried. Heavily affected ones need a restoration dry cleaner.
Can smoke smell be removed from wood furniture and leather?
Usually from solid wood: dry soot removal, cleaning, polishing and deodorising, with attention to unfinished backs and insides of drawers. Leather holds odour and should go to a specialist.
Does smoke damage plants and trees?
Heat scorches leaves and bark, and heavy soot blocks light on leaves. Many plants recover from light exposure. Trees damaged by fire near a house should be assessed by an arborist before they become a hazard.
Can fire damage brick, concrete, stone and steel?
Yes. Intense heat can crack and spall brick, stone and concrete and weaken mortar, and steel loses strength and can warp. After a serious fire these are assessed by a structural engineer.
Is fire-damaged waste hazardous?
It can be. Debris may contain asbestos from older materials, lead paint, chemicals and sharp or unstable items. It is handled with protective equipment and disposed of according to what it contains.
How do I seal smoke damage before painting?
Clean the soot off first, by dry methods and then wet. Then apply a stain and odour blocking primer, shellac-based or oil-based or a product made for smoke. Ordinary primer lets stain and smell bleed through.
How do I test for smoke damage?
Wipe a surface with a white cloth or dry sponge and look for grey or black transfer, check inside cupboards and on top of door frames, and inspect the furnace filter. Restorers also use chemical sponges and, where needed, laboratory analysis of residues.
What works on smoke smell? How long does ozone take?
Cleaning the residue is what works. Deodorising with hydroxyl generators, thermal fogging or ozone is a finishing step. Ozone treatment typically runs for hours to a day or two in an empty house, which must then be aired out.
Who cleans smoke damage?
Restoration companies. They remove soot from the structure and contents, clean ducts, treat odour and repaint, and they document the work for the insurer.
Should I buy a fire-damaged house? How much is one worth?
It depends on what was damaged and how well it was restored. Ask for the scope of repairs, permits, inspection records and any engineer's report. Value depends on the quality of the restoration and the local market, so get an independent inspection.
Should I sell a fire-damaged house, and who buys them?
You can sell as is, usually to investors or builders at a discount, or restore it first. Compare the insurance settlement, the cost and time of repairs and the likely sale price. A real estate agent and your adjuster can help with the numbers.
What is the difference between a closed and an open door in a fire?
A closed door holds back heat and smoke and can keep a room survivable and far less damaged. Fire services advise sleeping with bedroom doors closed.
Does home insurance cover wildfire damage? Who pays?
Fire is a standard insured peril, so damage from a wildfire is generally covered by home, condo and tenant policies, including smoke damage and living expenses during a mandatory evacuation, subject to the policy.
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