The Aftermath of Fire Damages

5/6/2022 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO® of Columbia County for any fire restoration needs!

What is Black Soot?

Soot is made up of fine black particles of incomplete combustion. It occurs when something in the home does not completely burn during a fire, whether it’s from fuel, coal, or combustible items around the house, such as plastics, metal, and paper. Soot is mostly made up of carbon but contain low levels of tar, acids, dust, or carcinogens.

Soot vs. Ash

When a fire occurs, there are two types of particles that can normally be found in the homes. Ash is the white or gray powder that is visibly made up of large particles. They are dry, powdery, and papery. It is made up of mostly carbon and other compounds that did not completely burn, much like soot.

Where Does Soot Come from and How Does it Get Everywhere?

Soot occurs during any fire, but it is most prevalent when wood, coal, oil, or plastics burn. Air drafts caused by flames allow the fine particles to float away before they can finish burning, resulting in soot.  Due to that, soot can easily spread throughout the home, even further than the fire damage.

Other Common Causes of Soot

While soot mostly occurs because of fires, there are other causes. Over time, and under the right conditions, you may find soot build up for the following reasons:

• Cooking food
• Burning wood in a fireplace
• Burning candles
• Melting or burning plastics
• Appliance malfunctions
• Furnace malfunctions

Leave soot clean up to the professionals at SERVPRO® of Columbia County! Our trained technicians can make soot damage “Like it never even happened.” For more information, contact us at (706) 868-5441.