You know what soot damage looks like. We have all seen nightly news reports of buildings that caught fire, with towers of smoke and wet interiors. Soot leaves dark physical markings, but it also works as an airborne pollutant due to microscopic particles floating around. In the wake of a fire, soot claims its territory, which means it takes an expert service to remove it.

Debris and soot go hand-in-hand in a figurative sense. You cannot have a clean and safe environment with either around, and leaving both unattended only leads to more damage. Delay just makes the problems worse. Contact Soil-Away when you have difficult-to-remove soot damage. Our leading-edge technology, proven restoration techniques, and industrial-grade cleaning products will guarantee quality results in less time than you might expect.

Soot Versus HEPA Vacuums

Generally speaking, property post-fire needs a lot of attention because the removal takes several layers of work. After all, it’s likely that debris and soot have contaminated both the interior and exterior of the property, which complicates matters. 

In the event of a fire, it is commonplace for the HVAC duct system to be contaminated by airborne pollutants like residual soot, dust, and the beginnings of mold. When the goal is to restore a clean and healthy environment, Soil-Away’s technicians use HEPA vacuums and filtration systems to clean every affected area. For the air duct system, we thoroughly remove those airborne pollutants from the property.

In addition, we clean any salvageable items. This includes regular appliances, fixtures, carpets, flooring, and other surviving contents. During this cleaning process, we can restore each item to pre-loss conditions. We make sure your belongings are up to code and thoroughly sanitized and deodorized.

Smoke and Odors

After the fire is out, the smoke residue and other odors cling to every surface. Soot is difficult to remove because it’s only the beginning of the clean-up. That’s why we thoroughly follow the appropriate cleaning steps to remove all traces. You don’t want lingering odors to irritate you.

Over the years, we developed and perfected our techniques. This is because every scenario is a bit different in scope. For example, a small, confined fire will have a concentrated dose of soot, which makes it more difficult to remove. A large structural blaze will leave behind a pervasive smoky odor that tends to spread into unseen nooks, which means the approach needs to be more investigative. Regardless of the details, Soil-Away is certified and equipped to remediate the noxious odors from materials and contents, large or small.

Our employees are certified by the IICRC. We are NH’s first operator of the Esporta Wash System. Several team members work efficiently and safely to restore your contents. Our goal is to return your belongings and structures back to a quality at least equal to or better than pre-loss conditions.

Side Effects of Soot Damage

Damaged structural and flooring components often must be replaced with fresh materials because soot often comes packaged with side effects, such as moisture pockets that work as a breeding ground for mold and toxic particles. Historically, mold can settle in places where there is plenty of oxygen, excess moisture, and an untreated organic surface. In the wake of a fire, pipes are covered in soot and leak in hidden places. Removal only comes with a thorough sweep of the property. Soot is difficult to remove because contaminants can hide inside walls and go undetected for some time.

Pre-Loss Conditions Despite Soot Damage 

Soil-Away works with insurance carriers, property management companies, major corporations, and homeowners to restore everything to pre-loss conditions. While fires can cause costly losses for commercial property owners, our team can mitigate damages, clean up the disaster, and restore your facility despite soot contamination. We use state-of-the-art technology and methods to help you overcome soot damage.

Defeating Soot Damage with Soil-Away

Any unsalvageable soot-contaminated items will be removed and immediately, inventoried, and properly disposed of. We’ll use a HEPA vacuum to remove unwanted contaminants from the area. We also use HEPA sanding and dry-ice blasting to help remove any signs of mold or soot damage. Once we complete removal and sanitation, we dry the area with large fans and dehumidifiers. Soil-Away Cleaning and Restoration Services is one of the largest independent cleaning and restoration companies in New England. We have experts ready to respond to your needs at any time, day or night. Call us now at (603) 641-6555.