Fire Damage and Soot Cleanup from Electrical Incidents in Durham

5/26/2022 (Permalink)

Sooty residue from an electrical fire in a Durham home gets Cleaned up by SERVPRO.

Light Bulbs, Furnaces, and Wiring Often Are the Culprits Causing Home Fire & Smoke Damage

Common reasons for electrical fires in Durham can include light bulbs, lamps, and light fixtures. Installing a light bulb with a wattage too high for the lamp you are putting it in is a leading cause of electrical fires. Check the minimum recommended wattage on any lamp or fixture, and do not go above the recommended amount. Sometimes, a fire occurs when a paper or cloth is placed over a lampshade; the material heats up and ignites.

A fire in your Durham home from a faulty light fixture or bulb can cause a lot of fire damage fast. Hopefully, it was contained in the room it began in, but even then, you still have smoke and soot, possibly in other areas of the home which need to be cleaned. A SERVPRO crew is always here to help you in an emergency, as we have the necessary equipment and training to help you recover from a fire. 

Not all soot residue is the same. Some kinds are easier to clean than others, and our technicians are trained to clean the four main types – wet, dry, fuel oil, or protein smoke residues. More kinds of materials are restorable in dry smoke conditions than wet. Dry residues carry few aerosols and deposit dry, small particles on surfaces. Dry smoke does not stain surfaces as deeply, either, and the odor is less pungent. Therefore, we need less aggressive cleaning procedures to remove dry smoke residues. 

Wet smoke residues are harder to remove, so restoration is also more difficult. A higher proportion of aerosols like solvents, varnishes, and other liquid components are in wet smoke. Wet smoke also moves slowly, giving it more time to get into crevices and enclosed areas. 

Protein residues and fuel oil soot are likely not present for a fire like this. Protein residues mainly come from kitchen fires, while fuel oil soot happens after a furnace puff-back. The cleanup of spiderweb-like residues on the ceilings and walls needs professional help to limit smearing.

SERVPRO of North Durham is trained in cleaning all kinds of soot and smoke residues. No matter the type of fire you had in your home in Chester, Upland, and Orange Factory, we can clean and restore your home when you call us at (919) 467-0880.