What SERVPRO Looks for in Smoke Damaged HVAC Systems

7/28/2021 (Permalink)

Downtown Chcago property owners breathe easier after fire damage cleanup and air quality control by SERVPRO

Smoke Damaged HVAC system in Downtown Chicago? Our SERVPRO Professionals Can Assist!

Smoke is one of the most common, pervasive, and challenging parts of most fires to remove. It works its way through cracks, holes, and especially ventilation systems to cause damage throughout the home. SERVPRO takes care to inspect and adequately treat ventilation to keep the spread of smoke and its odors to a minimum. Without careful attention, vents may spread smoke particles back out across the home after restorations have been completed. Here's a brief overview of what our inspectors look for when evaluating fire damage and potential cleaning techniques for ventilation in your home.

Visible Smoke Residue

When our technicians can see smoke residue smeared, coated, or piled in a ventilation system, this is a sign of extensive smoke and fire damage in Downtown Chicago homes. If there is no visible residue, this usually indicates that the vents are mostly free from damage and require little to no treatment. However, if the inspector finds visible residue, they note its color, composition, volume, and extent throughout the ventilation system. Depending on the smoke's specific characteristics, an action plan is then developed to remove it in a timely fashion.

Obvious Smoke Smells

In many cases, SERVPRO employees can identify problems in ventilation by the smell alone. Smoke usually creates heavy odors in a home and is thus easy to detect by smell. If smoke can be smelled inside a vent but not seen, this may be a sign of damage in an out-of-sight location or perhaps more extensive damage to the ventilation system.

Filter Quality

Sometimes, filters in the vent system may collect smoke and debris in apparent volumes. Typically, these are replaced after a fire no matter their condition, but it is worth inspecting them to determine the extent of damage to the ventilation system. In some instances, filters may even catch smoke particles that would have otherwise caused problems inside the vents, acting as effective barriers to further damage.

SERVPRO of Hyde Park / E. Bridgeport / Bronzeville is a local branch of a national restoration company that helps homeowners to overcome fire, water, and mold damage to their homes. Call us 24/7 at (312) 509-5000.