Why knowing behavior of smoke makes SERVPRO of Perry/Hall White Marsh better equipped to handle your Kingsville Maryland fire damage claim.

1/19/2018 (Permalink)

example of a "heatline" caused by trapped hot smokey air in a house.

Kingsville, Maryland: Behavior of smoke is something not often studied by the average Kingsville citizen, but here at SERVPRO of Perry Hall White marsh we are Fire and smoke restoration experts. We are going to break down a very complicated science behind smoke behavior so you are able to better understand why cleaning up fires can be so extensive (even if the fire was only in one room).

1. Convection Current

Convection Currents, in relation to home fires is when hot air rises, it forces cool air downwards. This produces a constant circulation as long as the fire is burning. Smoke rises until stopped by the ceiling; the greatest concentration of soot will be on the ceiling immediately above the fire area. This is Where we begin our scope (or inspection) of work to determine what needs to be done since the degree of residue decreases as you scope further from the fire

2. Heat Lines

Remember how the hot air forces cold air down? Well you can actually see it after the fire. Smoke fills a ceiling area, then banks down a wall to a point called the heat line. Above the heat line, residues are more difficult to remove because heat opens up pores in surfaces allowing deeper penetration (heat makes materials expand). This is why we test high on the walls for scoping to determine how to clean the rest of the walls.

3. Temperature of Smoke and Temperature of Surfaces

 Hot air as mentioned before provides the convection current. The hotter the fire, the more turbulent the current and the harder smoke is forced against surfaces. This driven smoke collides with surfaces and deposits residues that may be difficult to remove. Hot smoke eventually cools and becomes a free floating smoke that floats through the building and settles on horizontal surfaces.

4. Temperature of Surfaces

Hot smoke tends to move toward colder surfaces. This is how smoke gets between curtains and windows, and even inside cabinets and drawers. This principle is expressed as hot goes to cold.

5. Airflow patterns

Smoke follows airflow patterns through a building, spreading residues within the structure. Smoke flows upward through openings cut for water pipes and HVAC system. The cavity above a suspended ceiling may also serve as an air return and have heavier smoke deposits than the finished ceiling beneath. This cavity can also spread residues to a wider area of the building. The ductwork of the HVAC system can spread residues throughout a structure by distributing hot, smoke-filled air during the fire. While not every fire needs their duct system cleaned, it must be checked because if its not cleaned, unclean contaminated will redistribute smoke particles back into a restored structure when the HVAC is turned on again

7. Ionization
Ionization refers to smoke particles that become electrically charged. Since opposite electrical charges attract, smoke residues with strong charges may be attracted to surfaces with the opposite electrical charge. Ionized smoke particles cluster on metal surfaces. Through magnetism, charged smoke particles are attracted to plumbing pipes and coat hangers. Nail heads that are invisible beneath drywall become clearly outlined by smoke because their magnetic attraction remains effective despite the covering of paint and plaster. This is often referred to as nail pops, but the statement is misleading since the nails are still in place; it just looks like they have come to the surface.

Can you clean the soot so the nail head is no longer visible? We can.

Can you remove smoke from the very pores of your drywall? We can. 

Can you coordinate the cleaning of all affected contents, the inside of electronics, the affected walls, and ductwork, while communicating with insurance adjusters, textile restoration specialists (and while moving out your home into storage) and maintain a job and while taking care of your family? 

Don't worry, SERVPRO of Perry Hall White Marsh is here to handle it all. We are approved by all insurance companies and are IICRC certified. We have onsite storage and are able to clean everything and anything you can imagine. Don't hesitate to call us 410-529-1664 if you live in the Baltimore county Maryland area!